The 11.6-mile Hiawatha Corridor Light Rail Transit system links three of the region's most popular destinations: Downtown Minneapolis' Nicollet Shopping Mall, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America. Revenue service to the airport and the Mall of America began in December 2004.

The airport portion of the Hiawatha Transit Line includes two parallel tunnels underneath the heart of MSP, one underground station at Lindbergh Terminal and one above ground station at the Humphrey Terminal. The two 1.8-mile long tunnels start on the north side of MSP near the Fort Snelling site and continue under Runway 12R-30L, under the Lindbergh Terminal's parking revenue plaza adjacent to the Transit Center (location of the underground Lindbergh Station), under Runway 12R-30L, and emerge adjacent to the Humphrey Terminal. The maximum depth of the 18-foot 10-inch diameter tunnels is 70 feet below grade at the Lindbergh Terminal station. From the tunnel south you enter the above ground station at the Humphrey Terminal, located at the site of the future second parking ramp. The line continues south along 34th Avenue and exits MSP at Interstate 494.

Operated by Metro Transit, the line is be powered by electricity. Trains run from 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. seven days a week and 24 hours per day between the two airport terminals. Trains operate approximately every 7.5 to 10 minutes during peak hours, every 15 minutes during off-peak hours, and every 30 minutes in the early morning hours (4:30 a.m. to 6 a.m.) and late evening (9 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.).

Light rail transit serves as the primary transportation link between the two terminals. It also links the terminals to 15 off-airport stops, ending to the north at Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis (a 23-minute ride from the Lindbergh Terminal) and to the south at the Mall of America in Bloomington (an eight-minute ride).

Lindbergh Station

At the Lindbergh Terminal, the Hiawatha stops at a station 70 feet underground, with access to the Transit Center. There, people can catch a bus, rent a car or gain access to Lindbergh Terminal parking facilities. Travelers can enter the Lindbergh Terminal via the Connector (a skyway connecting concourses C and G) or the Hub Tram, which whisks passengers to the terminal's Tram Level, with access to taxis, short-term parking, baggage claim, ticketing and all Lindbergh concourses.

Humphrey Station

At the Humphrey Terminal, the Hiawatha station eventually will be part of a parking facility located along 34th Ave South. Travelers will gain access to the Humphrey Terminal either at street level or through an enclosed skyway to the terminal's second floor.

Alignment of Hiawatha Light Rail System at MSP

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