Metro Transit (Minnesota)

Metro Transit is a public transportation system in Minnesota.^[5] It was created in 1967.^[6] Metro Transit has buses, light rail, and a train.^[7] Metro Transit also carries students through the University of Minnesota.^[8] The most riders in one day is 370,000, on September 1, 2016.^[9][10]

Metro Transit was created to replace Twin City Lines.

Twin City Lines was a transit company from the time of horse carriages.^[11] Twin City Lines had 635 buses.^[12] Most Twin City Lines buses were over 15 years old. A few buses were not allowed in Minneapolis because they were too old.^[13] Workers quit until Twin City Lines could be improved.^[14][15]

Metro Transit had been trying to buy Twin City Lines since 1965.^[16] It was sold 4 years later. Metro Transit built 93 buses and 135 bus stops. A 24-hour information center was made soon after.^[6] By 1975, Metro Transit bought four other bus companies.^[17] 650 new buses were built.^[18][19]

In 1994, Metro Transit became a part of the Minnesota Government.^[20] Metro Transit changed its name to the Metropolitan Council Transit Operations. It was changed back soon after.^[21]

In 1998, Hennepin County raised money for the light rail. A year later, governor Jesse Ventura got money from the state.^[22] The Light Rail had its first trip on June 26, 2004, just over 50 years since the last streetcar on June 19, 1954.

The Northstar train service began on November 14, 2009.

Metro Transit gets funded by taxes and ride costs.^[23] Half of funding must come from riders.^[24]

From 2001 to 2006, state taxes were lowered, raising the price of rides.^[25] The price of rides went up again by 25 cents in 2008.^[26] The price went up by 25 cents in 2017.^[27][28]

Some rides cost more during rush hour and busy days. A ride can cost $3.25 in rush hour, but only $2.50 during normal times.^[29] The Light Rail does not cost more during rush hour.^[30]

Riders with disabilities (like wheelchairs) ride for only $1.^[31]

The Go-To card was created in 2007. The card was made to pay for rides quicker.^[32]

Only Northstar Train and Metro Mobility cost more for longer rides.^[33]

The Blue Line started service on June 26, 2004. It is the first light rail line in Minnesota.^[34][35] The Blue Line ran from Hennepin Avenue station to Fort Snelling station.^[36] In December, it was extended to Mall of America through the Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport.^[37] In 2009, it was extended to Target Field.^[34][38]

The Green Line started on June 14, 2014.^[39] It connects Downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota,^[40] the Saint Anthony Park, the State Capitol and Downtown St. Paul.^[41]

In 2022, the Blue Line was closed for five weeks for track repairs.^[42]

There are plans to extend both the Green Line^[43] and the Blue Line.^[44]

The Northstar is a train system going from Minneapolis to Big Lake.^[45] The Northstar started on November 16, 2009.^[46] The Northstar runs more during Twins and Vikings games.^[47] The Northstar does not run on holidays.^[48]

In 2025, Metro Transit announced that the Northstar was soon going to close forever.^[49] New bus routes will replace the Northstar line.^[50][51]

Bus Rapid Transit is a special type of bus for popular areas. It has less stops in the same distance. It can go much faster than regular buses.

• Started: June 22, 2013
• Goes from Metro Blue Line to Apple Valley^[52]

• Started: June 11, 2016
• Goes from Snelling Avenue to Ford Parkway^[53][54]

• Started: June 8, 2019
• Goes from Penn Avenue to Olson Memorial Highway^[55][56]

• Started: December 4, 2021
• Goes from Interstate 35W to Burnsville^[57][58]

• Started: December 3, 2022
• Extended in April 2025
• Goes from Fermont Avenue to Chicago Avenue (Mall Of America)^[59][60][61]

• Started: March 22, 2025
• Goes from Downtown St. Paul to Woodbury^[62][63]

• Starts: June 2025
• Will go from Bde Maka Ska to Selby Avenue^[64][65]

• Starts: 2025
• Will go from University of Minnesota to Southdale^[66][67]

• Starts: 2026
• Will go from St. Paul to White Bear Lake^[68][69]

• Starts: 2027
• Will get longer in 2028
• Will go from Dakota County to Little Canada^[70][71]

• Starts: 2028
• Will go from 3rd Ave & 2nd Street to Northtown^[72][73]

• Start date: Not known
• Will go from 5th Street to Sun Ray^[74][75]

Some routes have bus only roads. Most bus only roads are in popular areas.^[76] Nicollet mall was planned to be changed to a Bus only road. It was never changed because of backlash.

Signs with arrival times were added to some stations in 2011. Arrival Times have also been in the Metro Transit website since 2008.^[77][78] After 10 years, some signs were upgraded with better travel time predictions.^[79]

Bus-only lanes were added to popular roads in 2018.^[80] The bus-only lanes made bus travel much faster. They are mostly used during peak travel times.^[81]

Maps of rides are available online.^[82][83][84]

Metro Transit buses are allowed to drive on the side of the road to skip traffic jams.^[85] Buses are allowed to travel at 35 mph (56 km/h).^[86] Shoulders are rarely used because they are small and hard to drive on.

Metro Transit has 29 transit centers.^[87][88] Transit Centers are a space to connect stops between different bus routes.

Metro Transit operates 70 park and ride lots.^[89] There are 20,570 parking spaces in the lots. About 12,000 spaces are used per day.^[90] A report on the park and ride system is published yearly.^[91]

Star Tribune investigated Metro Transit's bus stops. They found that 460 stops had enough riders for a shelter but did not have one. Some existing shelters did not have enough riders to need a shelter.^[92] Metro Transit got $5.8 million to improve already existing shelters and adding new shelters to bus stops.^[93][94] Bus stop signs were also redesigned to include more information,^[95] and an additional 150 additional shelters were built.^[96]

All Metro Transit vehicles can be used by riders who need wheelchairs or have other disabilities.^[97]

All buses have wheelchair ramps and special seats for disabled riders.^[98][99] Light rails are on the same height as the ground, so they do not need a ramp.

Most vehicles also contain priority seating and wheelchair locks.^[100]

Service animals are allowed. Service animals must not be disruptive. Other animals must be in carriers.^{[101][102][103]}

Metro Mobility is a door to door system for disabled or elderly people.^[104][105] It started on December 10, 1991.^[106] Prices range depending on time of day and length of ride.^[107]

Bike racks are installed at all light-rail and heavy-rail stops.^[108] Bike racks are installed at the more popular bus stops, like downtown areas.^[109] There are bike racks on the front of buses.^[110] Bike lockers are available at Northstar stations, Park & Ride lots, and some Blue line stations.^[111] Lockers can keep bikes away from rain and criminals.

• Website
• Map
  • Planned future map
• System Report