Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) was founded in 1923 on land formerly used for auto racing. Originally called Twin Cities Airport- Wold Chamberlain Field, the airport soon became home to Northwest Airways.

Today, MSP is a hub for the nation’s fourth largest airline, Northwest. The airport also is served by every other major airline but Southwest. From MSP, travelers can book daily nonstop flights to 104 domestic and 14 international destinations.

Once operated by the Minneapolis Park Board, the airport has been under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) since 1943. A public corporation, the MAC is led by a 15-member board and accountable to the governor and state Legislature. Thirteen of the MAC’s 15 commissioners, including the chairperson, are appointed by the governor. The other two commissioners are the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul or their designees.

In 2003, MSP served 33.2 million passengers, making it the 9th ranking airport in North America and 15th largest in the world. The 512,588 aircraft landings and takeoffs at MSP made it the sixth busiest airport in North America and 7th busiest in the world. As at other U.S. airports, traffic levels at MSP declined in 2001 and 2002 due to the economic recession, war and the impacts of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America, but grew slightly in 2003.

The International Air Transport Association’s annual customer surveys ranked MSP the Best Large Airport in North America in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. MSP also ranks as runner up for Best Large Airport in the World.

In a 2001 review of the nation’s 20 largest airports, the Wall Street Journal awarded MSP four stars - the highest ranking possible. In a 2003 airport customer satisfaction survey, J.D. Edwards and Associates ranked MSP the third best airport in the world. The airport and its leadership have received various awards in numerous categories, including safety, fiscal management, labor relations, legal oversight, snow and ice control, concessions, airport design and development, and marketing and communications.

Virtually every aspect of Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport is being improved through a $3.1 billion expansion effort. In 1998, the state Legislature directed the MAC to expand MSP at its current site rather than build a new airport. In 2002 alone, the MAC opened two new Lindbergh Terminal concourses, A and B, and the second phase expansion of Concourse C. The commission also opened a new, eight-story parking ramp at the Humphrey Terminal, developed new cargo facilities, and finished work on numerous airfield projects.

Humphrey Terminal, which is the largest site for chartered flights in the country is located a short distance from the Lindberg Terminal. Local airlines Sun Country and Champion Air call the Humphrey Terminal home along with AirTran Airways and Midwest Airlines. The terminals are connected by light rail that runs 24 hours a day.

MSP has more than 145 destinations in the United States and more than 20 internationally.

Metro Transit is one of the country’s largest transit systems, providing roughly 95 percent of the 73 million bus trips taken annually in the Twin Cities. Each weekday customers board Metro Transit buses an average of 200,000 times.

Metro Transit operates the Hiawatha light-rail line, 129 bus routes — 68 are local-service routes and 47 are express routes and 14 contract service routes, using a fleet of 878 buses. The majority of the company’s fleet (818) are standard 40-foot buses while 140 are articulated buses and two are coach buses. All Metro Transit buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts or ramps and racks for bicycles. All trains feature step-free boarding, bicycle racks and luggage storage areas.

People associate Metro Transit with vehicles but our strength lies in the staff members who drive and maintain the buses and trains, answer the phones and support our operations. Metro Transit employs 1,506 drivers (367 are part-time drivers), 468 mechanics and 549 administrative/clerical staff.

To ensure safety for our customers and drivers, Metro Transit has its own police department. We have 144 Metropolitan Transit Police officers who work fulltime and part-time to enforce laws pertaining to safety on buses, on trains and at bus stops and rail stations.

Every bus has a wheelchair lift, and drivers are trained to help customers use the lift and secure their wheelchairs safely. Customers with disabilities should board first and exit last. Hiawatha Line trains offer step-free boarding, and are equipped with designated sections for customers using wheelchairs. In addition, all station platforms are fully accessible.

Because light rail is new to this area, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Light-rail trains travel in both directions on the tracks. Unlike freight trains, they are extremely fast and quiet. Carefully look both ways when crossing tracks, and cross at marked areas only. Walk bikes across the tracks to avoid getting tires stuck in the tracks.

Any one who drives a motor vehicle on public streets or highways in Minnesota must carry a valid driver’s license. If you’ve never had one in any state or country, you must apply for an instruction permit and pass a knowledge test, a vision test and a road test.

If you are moving to Minnesota from another state, certain U.S. territories or Canada, you can obtain a license by passing a knowledge and vision test.

If you’ve become a resident of Minnesota and have in your possession a valid driver’s license issued, you have 60 days to obtain your Minnesota license.

The Twin Cities metro has many services such as high occupancy vehicle lanes, free or discounted parking and ramp meter bypasses. Many highways have a carpool lane, which vehicles with at least one passenger can join encouraging a faster commute while reducing congestion.

Another option is the toll lane on I-394, for which drivers pay a fee depending on traffic. Car owners buy or rent a transponder for their vehicles. Normal use may range from about $2.50 per use during peak hour to $1.25 for non-peak hour access. Night and weekend rates will vary as well.

The average commute in the Twin Cities is about 25 minutes. The two major interstates that run through the Twin Cities are I-35, which splits into 35 East and 35 West and I-94, which runs east to west. Interstate 494 and 694 provide a bypass for the Twin Cites by encircling the entire metro area.

Many people are interested in keeping commuting costs low combined with the help of self propelled vehicles while preserving the environment and themselves.

The Twin Cities has extensive biking, walking and hiking trails.

There are other ways for more personal door-to-door services such as taxi and limousine services. There are also motorized trollies, restored street cars, horse-and-buggies, riverboats and passenger bicycles available for alternative and pleasant excursions.

Snow is inevitable in the metro area and when it gets bad enough the area declares a snow emergency, which puts temporary restrictions on parking to allow the plows to get through. Those who don’t move their car will most likely be towed.

Minneapolis

A Snow Emergency will be declared no later than 6 p.m. on any given day. At 9 p.m. on that day, Snow Emergency parking rules begin.

Park on either side of non-Snow Emergency routes (these streets DO NOT have the red sign: Snow Emergency Route). Do not park oneither side of the street with the red sign: Snow Emergency Route. Snow plows will clear those streets first. On day two, park on the odd side of non-Snow Emergency Route streets (example: house address number 1359 Maple or 2513 17th Ave.). Park on either side of streets with the red sign: Snow Emergency Route. Do not park on the EVEN side of non-Snow Emergency routes. (Example: house address number: 1356 Maple or 2512 17th Ave. After a street is fully plowed to the curb, feel free to park there, even if Snow Emergency parking rules are still in effect. Fully plowed means the street is completely cleared and plowed to the curb. Plows may come through more than once, so make sure that it is fully plowed to the curb before parking.

For up-to-date information on winter parking restrictions visit www.ci.mpls.mn.us/snow or call 612- 348-7669 for Minneapolis.

St. Paul

When Saint Paul gets 3” or more of snow OR an accumulation of 3” of snow over several days, you can expect the City to declare a Snow Emergency. Make sure you know the rules below, and -- if your car gets towed -- where the impound lot is.

All streets are either Night Plow Routes or Day Plow Routes. Night Plow Routes are plowed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the night a Snow Emergency is declared. They’re the busy streets -- marked with signs that say “NIGHT PLOW ROUTE” PLUS one side of north-south residential streets with signs that say “NIGHT PLOW ROUTE THIS SIDE OF STREET.” Downtown streets are plowed at night. Day Plow Routes have no plowing signs. They’re plowed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and normally following night plowing. They’re east-west residential streets PLUS one side of north-south residential streets -- the side WITHOUT the plowing signs. There are some exceptions to these rules, but they’re all well marked. Parking is banned until snow is plowed all the way to the curb.

For up-to-date information on winter parking restrictions visit www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/depts/ publicworks/snowplow or 651-266-7569.

Other Cities

For information for other municipalities, contact the appropriate city office.

Travelers in the Twin Cities Metro area have the opportunity to receive current traffic information through a variety of media. Information is available on the radio, Internet, telephone, and there is even an e-mail and paging service that sends out updates.

Real-time traffic maps, roadwork information, incident information and travel information can be found at 511mn.org or by dialing 511.