Project Library
As the B Line project advances, project documents will be posted here.
Newsletters
B Line Update #1 (April 2019)
Project Mailings
B Line Spring 2019 Open Houses (April 2019)
News Coverage
Weigh in on Southwest's bus rapid transit routes- Southwest Journal, April 23rd, 2019
From streetcar to BRT: The return of the Selby-Lake transit corridor?- MinnPost, April 16, 2019
The B Line rapid bus may replace Route 21 from Uptown Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul- Pioneer Press, April 15, 2019
$7M Awarded for new rapid transit bus stations on Marshall-Lake route - St. Paul Villager, Feb. 27, 2019
Past Events
2019
MayDay- May 5th, 10am-5pm
B Line May 2019 Open Houses
May 1st, South High School 4pm-6pm
May 2nd, Merriam Park Library 4:30pm-6:30pm
May 4th, Oxford Community Center 11am-1pm
Past Studies
Arterial Transitway Corridors Study (2012)
In 2011-2012, Metro Transit studied 11 urban corridors with high-ridership bus routes that connect major destinations for implementation of enhanced bus service. The Lake Street corridor ranked highly in this evaluation and was recommended for further study.
Midtown Corridor Alternatives Analysis (2014)
The Midtown Corridor Alternatives Analysis evaluated the benefits, costs, and impacts of implementing a rail or bus transitway in the Midtown Corridor. The study was initiated to identify a transit alternative that best meets the transportation needs of the local community in terms of technical feasibility, costs, and benefits. The analysis showed that corridor demand is sufficient to support both rail in the Midtown Greenway and enhanced bus on Lake Street. At the conclusion of the analysis, the project’s Policy Advisory Committee unanimously recommended a locally preferred alternative that includes both rail in the Midtown Greenway and enhanced bus on Lake Street (being advanced now as the B Line project).
Project Collaboration
METRO Green Line Extension: West Lake Street Station
The West Lake Street Station will be the western terminus of the B Line and will be built in coordination with the Southwest LRT project. The B Line station will be built on the West Lake Street bridge and will have access to the LRT station via stairs and elevator.
METRO Orange Line: Nicollet Avenue, I-35W, 4th/5th Avenue Stations
The I35W and Lake Street Station will provide a connection to the METRO Orange Line and the broader 35W@94:Downtown to Crosstown project includes a redesign of the freeway between I-94 and 42nd Street. The project is being led by MnDOT in partnership with Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis and Metro Transit.
B Line stations at Nicollet Avenue and 4th/5th Avenue will also be constructed as part of the reconstruction of Lake Street adjacent to I-35W.
Hi-Lake Interchange Study
The Hi-Lake Interchange Study is being led by the City of Minneapolis. The purpose of this project is to develop potential solutions to improve the pedestrian and bicycle environment of the Hi-Lake interchange while maintaining vehicle operations on Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue. The study is being led by the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, in partnership with Metro Transit and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
An eastbound enhanced bus stop at Lake and Hiawatha was built in conjunction with the construction of the South Minneapolis Regional Service Center in 2017, and will be used by the future B Line. The westbound station location will be implemented in coordination with this project.