Metro Transit (Minnesota)

Twin City Lines

Metro Transit was created to replace Twin City Lines.

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

Expansion

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

Government

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

New Lines

In 1998, Hennepin County raised money for the light rail. A year later, governor Jesse Ventura got money from the state. 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.

Prices

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. The Light Rail does not cost more during rush hour.

Riders with disabilities (like wheelchairs) ride for only $1.

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

Only Northstar Train and Metro Mobility cost more for longer rides.

Light rail

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

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

In 2022, the Blue Line was closed for five weeks for track repairs.

There are plans to extend both the Green Line and the Blue Line.

Northstar

The Northstar was a train system going from Minneapolis to Big Lake. The Northstar started on November 16, 2009. The Northstar ran more during Twins and Vikings games. The Northstar did not run on holidays.

In 2025, Metro Transit announced that the Northstar was soon going to close forever. New bus routes will replace the Northstar line. The Northstar had its last trip on January 4th 2026.

Red Line

• Started: June 22, 2013
• Goes from Metro Blue Line to Apple Valley

A Line

• Started: June 11, 2016
• Goes from Snelling Avenue to Ford Parkway

C Line

• Started: June 8, 2019
• Goes from Penn Avenue to Olson Memorial Highway

Orange Line

• Started: December 4, 2021
• Goes from Interstate 35W to Burnsville

D Line

• Started: December 3, 2022
• Extended in April 2025
• Goes from Fermont Avenue to Chicago Avenue (Mall Of America)

Gold Line

• Started: March 22, 2025
• Goes from Downtown St. Paul to Woodbury

B Line

• Started: June 2025
• Goes from Bde Maka Ska to Selby Avenue

E Line

• Started: 2025
• Goes from the University of Minnesota to Southdale

G Line

• Starts: 2027
• Will get longer in 2028
• Will go from Dakota County to Little Canada

F Line

• Starts: 2028
• Will go from 3rd Ave & 2nd Street to Northtown

H Line

• Start date: Not known
• Will go from 5th Street to Sun Ray

Bronze Line

• Starts: 2032
• Will go from Maplewood Mall to 6th street

Bus only roads

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

Arrival Times

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

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

Maps of rides are available online.

Bus-only shoulders

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

Transit centers

Metro Transit has 29 transit centers. Transit Centers are a space to connect stops between different bus routes.

Park and ride

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

Better Bus Stops

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. Metro Transit got $5.8 million to improve already existing shelters and adding new shelters to bus stops. Bus stop signs were also redesigned to include more information, and an additional 150 additional shelters were built.

Metro Mobility

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

Bikes

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