A Line (Minnesota)
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| A Line (Minnesota) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | A Line |
| Type | Bus rapid transit |
| System | Metro Transit |
| Locale | Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Start | 46th Street Station |
| End | Rosedale Transit Center |
| Stations | 33 |
| Opened | 2016 |
| Owner | Metropolitan Council |
| Operator | Metro Transit |
| Character | Urban/Suburban |
| Stock | New Flyer Xcelsior, articulated buses |
| Length | 12mi |
A Line (Minnesota) is a bus rapid transit corridor in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, operated by Metro Transit and owned by the Metropolitan Council. The service connects Minneapolis and Saint Paul suburbs, linking major nodes such as the 46th Street Station, Snelling Avenue, and Rosedale Transit Center while integrating with METRO Blue Line, METRO Green Line, and regional transit hubs. Funded and coordinated through partnerships involving the Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Department of Transportation, and local municipalities, the corridor emphasizes higher-frequency service, enhanced stations, and transit-priority treatments.
Overview
The A Line functions as a faster, more reliable alternative to local bus routes along a busy arterial corridor formerly served by Metro Transit local routes that connected neighborhoods, employment centers, and institutions such as the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, and M Health Fairview. Launched to provide elements of bus rapid transit comparable to systems in cities like Seattle, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon, the A Line introduced features including off-board fare payment, specialized shelters, and traffic signal priority coordinated with Minnesota Department of Transportation and Hennepin County traffic engineers. The project reflects planning efforts linked to the Metropolitan Council’s policy frameworks and federal programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration.
Route and Stations
The corridor extends roughly 12 miles from the southwest edge of Minneapolis at 46th Street, traversing eastward and then northeast through Richfield, Bloomington, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport adjacency, and along major streets including Snelling Avenue and University Avenue. Key station interchanges include the 46th Street Station connection to the METRO Blue Line, transfer points near Normandale Community College and commercial centers, and terminus connections at Rosedale offering links to suburban bus networks and park-and-ride facilities near Roseville, Minnesota. Stations feature real-time departure signage, heated shelters to suit Minnesota winters, raised platforms for improved boarding, and accessible designs compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 standards. Several stations align with mixed-use development corridors targeted by the Metropolitan Council and local planning commissions.
History and Development
Planning traces to corridors identified in regional studies by the Metropolitan Council and transit advocates aligned with initiatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and local governments including Minneapolis City Council and Saint Paul City Council. Early proposals built upon precedent projects such as the METRO Green Line light rail and the METRO Blue Line, and responded to ridership growth on parallel local routes. Federal funding considerations involved applications to the Federal Transit Administration Small Starts program and state appropriations debated in the Minnesota Legislature. Construction phases coordinated utility relocation with municipal agencies and environmental reviews consistent with National Environmental Policy Act-based procedures. The A Line opened in 2016 following community engagement processes involving neighborhood associations, business improvement districts, and advocacy groups like the Transit for Livable Communities.
Operations and Service
Operated by Metro Transit under contract with the Metropolitan Council, the A Line provides frequent service with headways typically shorter than traditional local routes, timed schedules to facilitate transfers to the METRO Green Line and Blue Line, and schedule integration with suburban providers such as Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and Dial-A-Ride Minnesota services. Operations incorporate Transit Signal Priority systems coordinated with municipal traffic engineering offices and the Minnesota Department of Transportation to reduce delays at congested intersections. Service planning reflects data from ridership surveys, on-board passenger counts, and performance metrics reported to the Metropolitan Council and the Federal Transit Administration.
Infrastructure and Vehicles
The fleet includes articulated New Flyer Xcelsior buses configured for BRT operation with multiple wide doors, low-floor boarding, and farebox interfaces supporting off-board payment. Station infrastructure includes enhanced shelters, platform markings, bike racks, and lighting developed in consultation with local historic preservation commissions where corridors passed sensitive areas. Maintenance and storage facilities coordinate with Metro Transit garages and vehicle procurement aligned with standards used by other North American transit agencies such as King County Metro and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Ridership and Impact
Since opening, the A Line has shown increased ridership relative to predecessor local routes, contributing to mode shift targets promoted by the Metropolitan Council and providing access to employment centers including downtown Minneapolis and the Twin Cities suburban employment districts. Economic development near stations has been monitored by municipal planning departments and economic development authorities, with transit-oriented development proposals studied by agencies like Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and local redevelopment authorities. Public safety, winter operations, and service reliability metrics are regularly reported to stakeholders including the Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Department of Transportation, and municipal transit oversight committees.
Future Plans and Extensions
Planning documents from the Metropolitan Council and regional stakeholders consider potential extensions and additional arterial BRT corridors influenced by models from peer systems such as San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Metro Transit (Minnesota). Discussions include enhanced signal priority, bus-only lanes on selected segments, and coordination with long-range transportation plans reviewed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and metropolitan planning organizations. Future capital projects would require funding approvals from the Minnesota Legislature and federal grant programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration.
Category:Bus rapid transit in Minnesota Category:Transportation in Minneapolis Category:Transportation in Saint Paul, Minnesota