Our vehicles
We keep the Twin Cities moving with
even less impact on the environment
Metro Transit's buses are in service for 12 years or more - and cover more than 400,000 miles in that time. All buses run on ultra-low sulfur fuel with a biodiesel blend - made from organic material like soybeans. This renewable fuel is better for air quality and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, the fuel is produced and made from products grown in Minnesota.
Over the past five years, average fuel economy for Metro Transit buses has improved about 12 percent. Since 2008, tires with improved design and material have been added to buses - saving an estimated 300,000 gallons of fuel per year. Today, taking a Metro Transit bus rather than driving uses on average about half of the fuel and produces half the greenhouse gas emissions per mile.
Hybrid electric bus
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Hybrid buses are propelled partially by electric power stored in a large battery on the roof of buses. These buses have at least 25 percent better fuel economy than standard buses, operate very quietly and recharge the battery when braking. Hybrids are deployed on routes with frequent stops - such as Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, where all buses are hybrids. We have 97 hybrid buses in service, about 10 percent of our bus fleet.
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Light rail
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The Hiawatha Line runs on electricity, with zero emissions from the train. Nearly one-fifth of the sources used to generate this electricity are renewable, including hydroelectric and wind power. For Earth Day and other events, Metro Transit has used Xcel Energy's Windsource® program to demonstrate that light rail can run on 100 percent wind power - another Minnesota-produced resource.
On average, choosing the Hiawatha Line instead of driving alone reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70 percent per mile.
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Northstar
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The Northstar Commuter Rail Line carries 145 seated customers per passenger car, the highest capacity of all vehicles in our fleet. On its most energy-efficient trips, Northstar has traveled with up to 10 cars and more than 2,500 customers onboard.
On average, choosing Northstar instead of driving alone produces about half of the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions per mile.
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> Efficient ride = greener ride
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> Additional Metro Transit resources on Rideshare and bicycling