More frequent and flexible bus service begins Jan. 5, 2026
Metro Transit will transition from commuter rail to expanded bus service.
The last day of Northstar Commuter Rail service will be Jan. 4, 2026, with special event service provided for the final Minnesota Vikings' regular season home game. Until that time, Northstar service will continue to operate as scheduled, including special service for all Vikings home games during the 2025 season.
Beginning Monday, Jan. 5, more frequent and flexible bus service will begin along the corridor between downtown Minneapolis and the Big Lake Station area.
More trips, more flexibility
With this transition, the Northstar corridor will see a tenfold increase in trips – from about 40 train trips per week today to nearly 400 weekly bus trips. This expanded service is designed to better match current travel patterns, offering more flexibility at a lower cost to operate.
Beginning Dec. 6, 2025:
- Route 827 (replacing Route 852), will travel between Fridley and downtown Minneapolis. On weekdays, trips will be provided every 30 minutes during rush hours (6 – 9 a.m. and 3 – 6:30 p.m.) and every 60 minutes midday. Trips will run hourly in each direction on Saturdays. The Fridley stop will shift to East River Road.
Beginning Jan. 5, 2026:
- Route 888 will serve existing Northstar stops in Ramsey, Anoka, Coon Rapids, and downtown Minneapolis. Route 888 will provide trips every 30 minutes arriving downtown during a.m. rush hours (6:30 - 8:30 a.m.) and leaving downtown in p.m. rush hours (3 – 5 p.m.). Additional hourly trips will serve reverse commutes and provide midday travel in each direction. Three southbound and three northbound trips will also be provided on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Route 882, as part of a two-year pilot, service will be provided between Big Lake, Elk River, and downtown Minneapolis on weekdays. Metro Transit will operate this service under an agreement with MnDOT. Route 882 will have three southbound trips in the morning and three northbound trips from downtown Minneapolis.
Metro Transit will publish final schedules for routes 888 and 882 in early December. Stop locations (except in Fridley), will be at existing Northstar Park & Rides, with downtown Minneapolis stops on Marquette.
Why this change is happening
This transition allows us to better meet the needs of more riders, more often, at a lower cost.
Shaped by Community Feedback
This bus service plan was directly informed by feedback from riders and residents throughout the corridor. Public input gathered in spring 2024 helped shape route planning and identified key infrastructure needs that will support this transition.