Frequently Asked Questions
What is dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) service?
Dedicated bus rapid transit, or BRT, is often considered the transit technology that is most like light-rail transit. Dedicated BRT includes a package of transit enhancements that deliver fast, comfortable and cost-effective services using special roadways or lanes dedicated to the exclusive use of buses. This package of transit enhancements includes:
- Frequent service
Service so frequent you won’t need a schedule, along with fewer stops than local routes so you’ll be moving more of the time
- Train-like features
You’ll pay your fare before you get on for faster boarding time and wait at enhanced stations with platforms that offer near-level boarding
- Enhanced stations with more amenities
Real-time departure signs so you’ll always know when the bus is coming, enhanced maps and signage
- Enhanced security
Stations with cameras and emergency phones, fare enforcement by Transit Police and improved lighting
- Specialized Vehicles
Unique, recognizable buses with wider aisles and additional doors so more people can get on and off easily. All Purple Line buses will be equipped with ramps to accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Why is the Purple Line BRT project needed?
The purpose of the Purple Line project is to provide transit service that satisfies the long-term regional mobility and accessibility needs for businesses and the traveling public and supports sustainable development within the study area between St. Paul and White Bear Lake.
The needs the Purple Line addresses are:
- Serving the needs of people who rely on transit
- Meeting increasing demand for reliable, high-frequency transit
- Planning for sustainable growth and development
- Expanding multimodal travel options
Where will the Purple Line go?
The Purple Line BRT Project is a 15-mile transit route connecting Union Depot in St. Paul and White Bear Lake, generally along Robert Street, Phalen Boulevard, Ramsey County Rail right-of-way (co-located with the Bruce Vento Regional Trail) and Highway 61.
The Purple Line will serve St. Paul, Maplewood, White Bear Township, Vadnais Heights, Gem Lake, and White Bear Lake.
The Purple Line will serve destinations like Lowertown, the St. Paul central business district, Payne-Phalen, Phalen Village, Maplewood Mall, St. John’s Hospital, TCO Sports Garden and downtown White Bear Lake. The line will serve 97,000 residents and will provide access to 106,000 jobs within a 10-minute walk of its 21 stations.
The Purple Line BRT Project includes further exploration of connector bus service north to Forest Lake, along with other transit system improvements.
At what times and how often will the Purple Line operate?
The Purple Line will operate all day, frequently and in both directions from approximately 5 a.m. until midnight.
Buses will run every 10 minutes during rush hours and every 15-30 minutes at other times.
What features will Purple Line stations have?
Purple Line stations will provide a comfortable, secure waiting space and a variety of customer amenities. These features include:
- Bike parking
- Real-time bus schedule information (NexTrip displays)
- On-demand heat
- Trash and recycling bins
- Emergency telephones
- Security cameras
- Energy-efficient LED station lighting
- Information about the station, route, transit system, and neighborhood
- Ticket machines for off-board fare purchase using cash or credit card
What features will Purple Line buses have? Will vehicles produce air or noise pollution?
The buses used for the Purple Line will be modern, state-of-the-art buses designed for an enjoyable customer experience. Like all buses in Metro Transit's system, Purple Line buses will accommodate bicycles and be ADA-compliant with ramps, seating areas, and accommodations for customers with disabilities.
Metro Transit plans to gradually transition to a fully electric bus fleet in the years ahead. Electric buses produce no tailpipe emissions and provide a quieter ride than conventional diesel models. Project plans assume a fully electric vehicle fleet will be used for the Purple Line.
Will Purple Line buses have their own lanes or operate in regular traffic?
To provide a faster and more reliable trip, the Purple Line buses will operate in a dedicated guideway and bus-only lanes for about three-quarters of the 15-mile route between St. Paul and White Bear Lake. Along the remaining portions of the route, the Purple Line will share traffic lanes with other vehicles. The project’s 15% Concept Plans show where the line will operate in its own space versus where it will share the road with other vehicles.
How will the Purple Line connect with the rest of the METRO system?
The line will connect St. Paul and northern communities with existing and future light rail and bus rapid transit service of the METRO system, including direct connections to Green Line, Gold Line, B Line, G Line and H Line, as well as local and express bus routes
- The future B Line will share stations with the Purple Line and Gold Line
- The future G Line will share stations with the Purple Line
- The future H Line will share one station with Purple Line
When will construction begin? When will the Purple Line open?
Based on the project's current timeline, construction of the Purple Line is expected to begin in 2024 with a 2026 opening.
How will the Purple Line Project be funded?
Capital funding for the Purple Line will come from a combination of Ramsey County and federal funds. The county funds are primarily generated by Ramsey County's Transit Sales & Use Tax and federal funding is expected to be obtained through the Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grants Program.
Funding for Purple Line operating costs will come from transit fares and state and county sources.
How was this route selected? Why BRT and not local bus or light rail?
The purpose of the project is to provide transit service that meets the long-term regional mobility needs for the public and supports sustainable development in the project area. The project goals, as defined in the previous phase of the project, the Pre-Project Development study, are as follows:
- Increase transit use
- Develop an implementable project
- Improve quality of life
- Improve sustainable transportation options
- Enhance regional connectivity
- Support the local vision for sustainable development
The Pre-Project Development study (performed 2014-2017) examined 55 route segments and several types of transit through an extensive public engagement and technical evaluation process in order to determine which route and type of transit would best meets the project's overall Purpose and Need. A light rail, commuter rail, modern streetcar, bus rapid transit, and local bus service were all evaluated in the PPD study, and BRT proved to be the best option. BRT provides a similar quality of service to light rail at less than half of the cost. It is faster than local bus service and offers high quality amenities such as improved stations, off-board fare payment, and more.
The route and BRT option selected serves the highest number of riders, including people who rely on transit, and provides the greatest potential for economic development while maximizing cost effectiveness.
What will happen to the Bruce Vento Regional Trail?
First, the Bruce Vento Regional Trail will NOT be eliminated. Ramsey County acquired the right-of-way including it in the 1990s for future transit use. There is enough room for a reconstructed Bruce Vento Regional trail, the Purple Line, and other elements, such as landscaping.
The Ramsey County Rail Right-of-Way Design Guide will guide the design of the Purple Line and Bruce Vento Regional Trail. The Design Guide was created with public input collected in 2019 and in previous planning phases. It emphasizes the importance of the natural and historic character of the right-of-way, safety and security, ease of access and maintenance, and a safe, high-quality experience for trail and Purple Line users.
Watch a video about the Right-of-Way Design Guide featuring an interview with Metropolitan Council Member Susan Vento.
What is happening now to advance the Purple Line project?
After completing the environmental process and entering Project Development, the project was transitioned to the Metropolitan Council in December 2021. As the region’s leading transit provider, the Council has the experience and expertise to lead final design (expected 2022-24) and construction (expected 2024-2026) for the project. It will ultimately operate the Purple Line as part of the regional METRO system.
Ramsey County staff and policymakers will continue to be involved and will lead Advanced Station Area Planning between 2022 and 2024 in partnership with corridor cities, the Metropolitan Council, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Will the Purple Line bring crime?
Research shows that people generally tend to commit crimes near where they live. Studies from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Durham, North Carolina have found no significant increase in crime due to the presence of a transit station. Using transit to flee a crime is especially uncommon.
Transit facilities in the Twin Cities follow best practices for safety and security with multiple security cameras, emergency call buttons, and open layouts that are well-covered with lighting for high visibility. Purple Line stations and Park & Ride lots will have these same safety features. Uniformed and plainclothes Metro Transit Police continually patrol transit routes, buses and stations. Like other METRO lines, transit police officers will inspect fares on board Purple Line buses. Buses are each equipped with multiple security cameras. Bus drivers continually serve as ‘eyes on the street’ and have instant radio and silent communications capability with police dispatch.
I don’t have a car – how can I access the Purple Line?
The Purple Line's 21 stations are accessible by a variety of transportation modes such as walking, biking, and using a mobility device such as a wheelchair. In fact, most transit customers reach their bus stop or transit station by walking. Improved biking and walking connections to stations will be built as part of the Purple Line. Local bus routes in the area may also be adjusted to create connections to the Purple Line. Ramsey County and its municipal partners are planning for increased development near Purple Line stations, which will result in more homes, businesses, and jobs within a short walk of stations.
Why won't the Purple Line extend past White Bear Lake?
As part of the pre-project development study (2014-2017), Ramsey County examined transit alternatives for a 30-mile corridor between downtown St. Paul and Forest Lake. The study determined that the market for all-day, high-frequency (every 10-15 minutes) transit in the corridor is between downtown St. Paul and downtown White Bear Lake when taking into account current population data and forecast population growth through 2040. Even with anticipated growth in Hugo and Forest Lake in the coming years, the residential and job density north of downtown White Bear Lake is not expected to warrant investment in all-day, frequent transit service. The existing demand for transit service in the Hugo and Forest Lake area is predominantly for express service.
What is the anticipated ridership, especially given the pandemic’s effect on ridership?
Planners expect the line will provide approximately 7,000 average weekday rides by 2040. The FTA requires reassessment of ridership as projects advance and before the Metropolitan Council submits its final application for federal funding.
During the depths of the pandemic, some core local routes provided the most essential trips, including bus rapid transit lines and future BRT corridors.
- METRO A and C lines, and future BRT corridors on routes 3, 5, 6, 10, 21, 62, and 68 consistently had high essential ridership during the depths of the pandemic and ridership has grown since then.
How can I receive the latest updates on the Purple Line BRT Project?
Subscribe to Purple Line Update to get project updates.