METRO Bronze Line
The Metropolitan Council, Ramsey County, and the cities of Maplewood and St. Paul announced in December 2025 the METRO Bronze Line bus rapid transit (BRT) project, a reimagined version of the former Purple Line BRT project.
What is the Bronze Line?
The METRO Bronze Line is a proposed bus rapid transit line in Ramsey County that will connect with expanding light rail and rapid bus services of the METRO system. The line will increase accessibility to jobs, housing, and services, improving the appeal and competitiveness of the east metro area. Click map for interactive features.
These collaborative discussions with project partners have led to the following new project definition:
In Maplewood, the project includes:
- An improved end-of-the-line station at Maplewood Mall Transit Center
- Traffic signal transit priority modifications
- Limited right-of-way acquisition to accommodate station platforms
- Improvements at station intersections include:
- Pedestrian ramps and signals
- Potential replacement of older traffic lights
- Buses will operate in general purpose lanes north of Larpenteur Avenue
In St. Paul, the project includes:
- A new BRT and multi-use trail bridge over Johnson Parkway (between Cook Station and Maryland Avenue)
- Buses will operate in side-running bus lanes on Maryland and White Bear avenues south of Larpenteur Avenue that allows general traffic to make right turns onto local streets or into driveways
- Additional improvements in St. Paul include:
- Dedicated left-turn lanes and new medians
- Pedestrian ramps and signals
- Traffic signal transit priority modifications
- Right-of-way acquisition to accommodate roadway reconstruction and station platforms
Stations in both cities will have these enhanced amenities:
- Comfortable waiting space
- NexTrip real-time departure signs and maps
- Heating
- Lighting
- Bike racks
- Added security with cameras and emergency telephones
Project schedule
The Corridor Management Committee (CMC) is anticipated to make a route recommendation at the Dec. 11 CMC meeting. Following the CMC recommendation, the Metropolitan Council would seek resolutions of support from Ramsey County and the cities of Maplewood and St. Paul.
The schedule for the project’s design, construction, and opening is under development. More information about the project schedule will be shared once available. Construction is not currently anticipated before 2028.
Project Overview
The Bronze Line is a planned bus rapid transit line that will provide faster and more reliable transit service to the cities of St. Paul and Maplewood and will connect with existing and future light rail and bus rapid transit service of the METRO system, including direct connections to the Green Line, Gold Line, B Line, G Line, and H Line, as well as local and express bus routes. The line will replace Route 54 along White Bear Avenue and a portion of Maryland Avenue with enhanced service and facilities. The line will increase accessibility to jobs, housing, and services, thus improving the attractiveness and competitiveness of the east metro area.
- The Metropolitan Council, in partnership with Ramsey County, will design and construct the project. Metro Transit will own, operate, and maintain the line.
- To learn more about the Bronze Line project:
- View a project fact sheet in English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong or Karen (as of December 2025)
- Subscribe to get METRO Bronze Line project news delivered to your inbox
For past documents related to the Purple Line project, visit the Project Library (pre-2025).
Project Contacts
Bronze Line Project Office
[email protected], 651-602-1955
Media Contact
Laura Baenen, [email protected], 612-269-4365
Community Outreach and Engagement
Liz Jones, [email protected], 651-602-1977
Coordinated and Related Projects