A Line (Metro Transit)
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| A Line (Metro Transit) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | A Line |
| System | Metro Transit |
| Locale | Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Type | Bus Rapid Transit |
| Status | Operational |
| Open | 2016 |
| Operator | Metro Transit |
| Start | Rosedale Center |
| End | Nicollet Mall |
| Stations | 28 |
| Length | 9.8 mi |
| Vehicles | Van Hool 40-foot buses |
A Line (Metro Transit) The A Line is a bus rapid transit service operated by Metro Transit in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. It connects major activity centers including Rosedale Center, Snelling Avenue, Skyway System, and Target Field Station using features inspired by international TransMilenio and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors such as Bogotá and Brisbane. The corridor complements regional rail services like Northstar Line and light rail lines including the Blue Line (Minnesota), Green Line (Minnesota), and Hiawatha Avenue transit investments.
Overview
The A Line functions as a higher-speed, higher-frequency arterial service within Metro Transit's Metro network, designed under principles promoted by organizations such as the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy and modeled on projects from Ottawa Transitway, Los Angeles Metro Busway, and Vancouver SkyTrain integration practices. It leverages federal and state funding mechanisms linked to programs overseen by the Federal Transit Administration and Minnesota Department of Transportation while coordinating with municipal planning from Minneapolis City Council and Saint Paul City Hall. Partnerships included outreach with advocacy groups like Transportation for America and research from academic centers such as the University of Minnesota.
Route and Stations
The route runs along major arterials including Snelling Avenue, Selby Avenue, and Cedar Avenue, terminating downtown near Nicollet Mall and connecting to intermodal hubs like Target Field and Union Depot (Saint Paul). Stations feature off-board fare payment, real-time arrival displays, and enhanced shelters influenced by design standards from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Key stops serve destinations such as Rosedale Center, Macalester College, Hamline University, and the University of St. Thomas vicinity, linking to bicycle networks promoted by Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition and pedestrian improvements advocated by Walk Bike Live.
Operations and Schedule
Service operates with frequencies intended to rival light rail corridors, running frequently during peak periods in coordination with Twin Cities Metropolitan Area scheduling. Operations are managed by Metro Transit dispatch centers, using fare enforcement strategies aligned with practices in Seattle Transit and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Scheduling integrates with regional event calendars at venues like Target Center, Xcel Energy Center, and U.S. Bank Stadium to manage peak loads, and service planning considers commuter flows to employment centers like Downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul RiverCentre.
Vehicles and Infrastructure
The A Line uses low-floor, 40-foot buses built by manufacturers similar to Van Hool models, equipped with multiple doors, enhanced HVAC, and branding consistent with Metro Transit's electric branding experiments. Infrastructure investments included station platforms, signal priority at intersections using technology akin to Transit Signal Priority deployments in Portland, Oregon and Copenhagen, and concrete curb treatments inspired by Curitiba BRT. Maintenance is performed at Metro Transit garages employing standards from American Public Transportation Association and vehicle diagnostics comparable to fleets in Chicago Transit Authority.
Ridership and Performance
Since opening, the corridor reported ridership increases benchmarked against arterial bus routes, with performance metrics compared to studies by the National Transit Database and improvements reflected in reports by Metropolitan Council (Minnesota). Metrics include on-time performance, boarding time reductions due to off-board fare, and mode-shift analyses referencing case studies from Minneapolis-Saint Paul Regional Rail Authority and international examples like Transantiago. Performance also considers equity outcomes highlighted by organizations like Urban Institute and Brookings Institution urban transportation analyses.
History and Development
Planning began through collaborative efforts among the Metropolitan Council, Metro Transit, and local governments, drawing on precedent projects such as Health Line (Cleveland) and MAX Light Rail (Portland, Oregon). Public input processes involved neighborhood councils, business improvement districts, and institutions like Macalester College and Hamline University, while environmental reviews followed National Environmental Policy Act-style assessments administered with state counterparts. Construction phases paralleled other regional investments such as the Green Line extension and involved contractors experienced in transit projects linked to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Planning and Future Improvements
Future planning discusses potential extensions, service intensification, and integration with regional projects like the Blue Line extension and proposed Northstar commuter rail improvements. Studies reference best practices from Bus Rapid Transit Planning Guide literature, funding strategies paralleling Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program allocations, and technology upgrades such as electric or hydrogen fuel cell propulsion piloted in fleets like those of King County Metro and Los Angeles Metro. Ongoing coordination involves agencies including the Metropolitan Council (Minnesota), Minnesota Department of Transportation, and municipal transit planners to refine station amenities, transit-oriented development near stops, and multimodal connections to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and regional bicycle networks.
Category:Bus rapid transit in Minnesota Category:Metro Transit (Minnesota)