Question about public transportation & neighborhoods. (Minneapolis, St. Paul: sublets, construction, college)

[regina george]

I am being considered for a position located in Minneapolis and I have some questions about the bus and train routes. If I'm hired, I would be working in the North Loop area. Is it possible (and not completely frustrating) to rely entirely on public transportation in Minneapolis? Also, what neighborhoods would be the best for easy commute and decent to live in? I'd like an area with stores, restaurants, and entertainment within walking or short public transportation distance. I've been looking at street maps and just mapping some addresses listed on craigslist.org for sublets and it seems like Stadium Village and Dinkytown would be my best options. Does this sound right?

[Wellstone]

go to metrotransit.org and the full train and bus schedule is there. where you would be working is ideal for the trains because the station is right there. there's a new line opening in a month that will run from target field all the way up to big lake which is 50 some miles away. but there are stops in fridley, coon rapids, and anoka. sounds like you want a place with more action so maybe consider living along the other line which is the hiawatha line. the hiawatha line runs from downtown to the airport and mall of america. if you chose to live near MOA then you have all the shopping and entertainment you would ever need and a perfect link to downtown without ever having to deal with traffic. currently there is no train line connecting the U of M or downtown st paul to minneapolis but that is coming. construction hasn't begun so it is several years away. but there are probably numerous bus routes to satisfy that, check metrotransit.org - all the info is there. some of the trendier neighborhoods would be the uptown area but there's no rail line there either

[Minnehahapolitan]

Dinkytown and Stadium Village are college areas, which is great if you are a college kid. Not bad areas at all, but very much catered to students. Otherwise, the Saint Anthony area (across the river from downtown on Hennepin and Central), Downtown itself and Uptown are all convenient to most of the Warehouse District on the No. 6 busline. Those areas have the most foot traffic in the area. Cedar Riverside is more diverse and quite urban, but lacks some of the everyday amenities that you would need and is also behind in terms of safety. Most of the Whittier area also meets your neighborhood criteria, but the Nicollet busline (No. 18) puts you quite a hike from the warehouse district depending on exact addresses.

[uptown_urbanist]

I wouldn't choose Dinkytown or Stadium Village if I wasn't a student. They are both extremely student-oriented areas. I'd second the St. Anthony/Marcy-Holmes suggestion; very convenient, nice blend of people, completely livable without a car and has everything on your list. But overall, yes, it's possible to live in Minneapolis without a car, and plenty of people choose to do so.

[Explorer John]

Originally Posted by Wellstone

go to metrotransit.org and the full train and bus schedule is there. where you would be working is ideal for the trains because the station is right there. there's a new line opening in a month that will run from target field all the way up to big lake which is 50 some miles away. but there are stops in fridley, coon rapids, and anoka. sounds like you want a place with more action so maybe consider living along the other line which is the hiawatha line. the hiawatha line runs from downtown to the airport and mall of america. if you chose to live near MOA then you have all the shopping and entertainment you would ever need and a perfect link to downtown without ever having to deal with traffic. currently there is no train line connecting the U of M or downtown st paul to minneapolis but that is coming. construction hasn't begun so it is several years away. but there are probably numerous bus routes to satisfy that, check metrotransit.org - all the info is there. some of the trendier neighborhoods would be the uptown area but there's no rail line there either

As someone who is woken up at 7 or 8 every morning with jackhammers and heavy machinery, I can assure you that construction has indeed started on the Central Corridor LRT line. Try to drive around downtown St. Paul and you'll see how messed up the streets are. I don't know the timelines on this but if they don't pick up the pace the Winter Carnival parade won't be marching down 4th St. I guess it's technically pre-construction right now, moving utilities and such, but it's definitely under way.

[lindbergh]

If you are a young professional, stay away from Stadium Village. Only students there. If you will be working in the North Loop - no finer place to live than in...drumroll....the North Loop! Plenty of hip housing options (rent or buy) in that area. Take a bus over the bridge to Lund's for groceries, walk to work, great restaurants in your neighborhood, a few fitness centers. Yeah, I think you could definitely get by w/o a car there.

I would not consider the MOA area or St Paul as viable options if you are working in the North Loop.

[regina george]

Thanks for the responses. I'll definitely be asking more questions if I get the position.

ETA: I'm in my late 20's so yeah, I'd rather not be surrounded by a frat-like atmosphere. Is housing in the North Loop expensive?