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| C Line (Metro Transit) | |
|---|---|
| Name | C Line |
| Type | Bus rapid transit |
| System | Metro Transit |
| Locale | Minneapolis–Saint Paul |
| Start | Downtown Minneapolis |
| End | Brooklyn Center |
| Stations | 43 |
| Open | 2019 |
| Owner | Metro Transit |
| Operator | Metro Transit |
| Stock | New Flyer Xcelsior |
| Line length | 17.0 mi |
| Map state | collapsed |
C Line (Metro Transit) The C Line is a bus rapid transit route operated by Metro Transit serving the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, connecting central Minneapolis with northern suburbs via high-frequency service and enhanced stations. It integrates features from the A Line (Metro Transit), B Line (Metro Transit), and D Line (Metro Transit) corridors to provide improved access to employment centers, transit hubs, and regional destinations such as Target Field and Brooklyn Center Transit Center. The corridor traverses neighborhoods and jurisdictions including Uptown (Minneapolis), North Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and links to regional services like METRO Blue Line and METRO Green Line.
The C Line runs on a primarily north-south axis between Downtown Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, utilizing major arteries such as Penn Avenue N and Hennepin County Road 81. Along its route the line connects with multimodal facilities including Target Field station, Nicollet Mall, and the Mall of America-adjacent transitways through transfers to the METRO Blue Line and METRO Green Line. It serves dense commercial corridors near Uptown (Minneapolis), northern employment districts adjacent to I‑94, and community anchors such as North Memorial Health Hospital and Brookdale Library. The alignment was selected to interface with regional planning documents from the Metropolitan Council and to complement arterial bus routes operated by Metro Transit and suburban partners like MVTA and SouthWest Transit.
Planning for the C Line traces to corridor studies conducted by the Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit in the 2010s influenced by precedents set by the A Line (Metro Transit) and B Line (Metro Transit). Environmental review and public outreach involved entities including the Minnesota Department of Transportation and local governments such as the City of Minneapolis and City of Brooklyn Center. Funding packages combined local sales tax revenues approved by the Metropolitan Council with federal grants administered through the Federal Transit Administration. Construction phases overlapped with street and utility projects managed by Hennepin County and transit signal priority installations coordinated with the City of Minneapolis Public Works. The line opened with a ceremonial launch reflecting partnerships among elected officials from the offices of the Mayor of Minneapolis and county commissioners.
Stations on the C Line feature enhanced amenities similar to other Metro Transit arterial rapid transit stops: shelters, off-board fare payment, real-time arrival displays, and accessible boarding platforms. Key stations include near Target Field, Calhoun Square, and the Brooklyn Center Transit Center, each designed to integrate with pedestrian and bicycle facilities planned in coordination with Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board projects. Station design referenced standards from the Americans with Disabilities Act and drew input from advocacy organizations such as AARP Minnesota and the Transit Riders Union. Some stops are adjacent to historic districts like those overseen by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Metro Transit operates the C Line with higher peak and off-peak frequencies compared to conventional bus routes, employing transit signal priority in partnership with the City of Minneapolis traffic engineering division. Service integrates with regional fare policies administered by the Metropolitan Council and allows transfers to light rail at stations serving the METRO Blue Line and METRO Green Line. Operations are coordinated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters members who staff vehicle maintenance and driving duties under collective bargaining agreements. Dispatching and scheduling utilize centralized control at Metro Transit’s operations center and are informed by data from the National Transit Database.
The C Line uses low-floor, articulated buses such as the New Flyer Xcelsior (XDE) family configured for all-door boarding and rapid fare collection; maintenance and procurement followed practices outlined by the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area fleet modernization plans. Infrastructure investments included reinforced bus pads, upgraded shelters, and electrical systems installed in coordination with Xcel Energy. Communications and signaling systems employ technologies consistent with Federal Communications Commission regulations and leverage Automatic Vehicle Location data provided through partnerships with firms engaged by the Metropolitan Council.
Ridership metrics for the C Line are collected and published by Metro Transit and summarized in regional reports by the Metropolitan Council. The route aimed to attract riders from legacy routes such as the former Route 19 (Metro Transit) and demonstrated measurable changes in boarding times, on-time performance, and passenger satisfaction measured via surveys conducted with assistance from University of Minnesota urban planning researchers. Performance indicators include peak headways, average speed on major corridors, and farebox recovery rates benchmarked against other METRO and bus rapid transit services like the A Line (Metro Transit).
Planned improvements for the C Line corridor are informed by regional transit studies by the Metropolitan Council and proposals from local governments including the City of Brooklyn Park and Hennepin County. Potential enhancements include upgraded station capacity, expanded dedicated bus lanes coordinated with Minnesota Department of Transportation policies, and integration with proposed METRO extensions examined in the 2040 Transportation Policy Plan. Pilot projects may explore zero-emission buses promoted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and grant opportunities from the Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grants program. Local advocacy groups such as the Transit for Livable Communities continue to influence station area planning and transit-oriented development around key nodes like Target Field and Brooklyn Center Transit Center.
Category:Metro Transit lines Category:Bus rapid transit in Minnesota Category:Transportation in Minneapolis–Saint Paul