In Houston, we built a ‘light rail’ using local funding, as federal funding was dry, unless we ‘proved’ that we could at least operate one line.
So we had a lot of crashes at the beginning, killing a decent number of people, but we were SMART and blamed the DRIVERS each time...regardless of who was really at fault.
It worked. Federal money then flowed.
In Houston, it was automobile drivers making left turns in front of the train, not realizing that the train has the right of way. The light rail in Houston however is signaled.
In this St Paul case, the motorman blew through a signal. This the motorman would be at fault.
I am familiar with the Hiawatha Line in the Twin Cities. This appears to be the newer University Avenue Line, since this occurred in Ramsey County. I am not that familiar with that line, since it went into service after I left Minnesota (never to return).
I live in Houston. It is my opinion that the Metro light rail system is merely a make work jobs program for incompetent and unpleasant ghetto people.
Fun fact: They don’t hire white people. The offices are entirely black.