Faster transit is coming to the Route 6 Corridor
METRO E Line BRT Preliminary Design Update
The METRO E Line team has been working to engage station neighbors to share preliminary designs and gather feedback. Preliminary designs show how stations will be positioned in their physical space, including where amenities will go as well as improvements to pedestrian facilities. During the preliminary design phase, feedback from the public, including station neighbors and transit riders, was sought on the placement of station amenities.
Metro Transit received over 100 unique emails, door knocked at over 100 addresses, met with over a dozen neighborhood groups and station neighbors, and received over 140 comments through an interactive map. Metro Transit has reviewed this feedback and is incorporating it into final station designs as appropriate.
Next steps:
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Metro Transit will develop and share final designs as well as more construction information with the public and station neighbors in December 2023.
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E Line construction is anticipated to begin in spring of 2024.
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Major E Line construction is planned to be complete by late 2025.
Stay tuned for the next E Line update in December.
What is a preliminary station design?
Preliminary station designs are developed for each station in the engineering phase of the project. They are the first step to creating the construction specifications and blueprints for the E Line project.
The project team takes the input gathered during the planning phase and starts putting this information into design plans for placement of stations and amenities.
What is considered in station placement and site design?
- bus operations and standard BRT station architecture and features
- local and county street design standards and traffic engineering factors
- station activity level and size
- amount of space available
- accessibility and safety for all users
- input from station neighbors
- other street uses in the same area (trails, bike lanes)
- geographic features
Project staff will continue the design phase by resolving and incorporating comments into design as appropriate. As design plans are further developed, review of safety, accessibility, drainage, lighting, utilities, sightlines, and cost estimates will continue.
When is construction planned to begin?
Construction is planned to begin in Spring of 2024. For the remainder of 2023, staff will be completing engineering of E Line stations and other improvements. As the construction schedule is finalized, Metro Transit will share more information on the timing and duration of construction activities. The E Line is scheduled to begin service in 2025.
View the Corridor Plan
What is the METRO E Line?
The METRO E Line is a planned bus rapid transit (BRT) line that will provide faster and more reliable transit service in the Route 6 corridor along University Avenue/4th Street, Hennepin Avenue, and France Avenue from the University of Minnesota to Southdale.
BRT is a package of transit enhancements that adds up to a faster trip and an improved experience on Metro Transit’s busiest bus routes. Learn more at metrotransit.org/brt or watch a short video.
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Project schedule
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Fall 2021: Corridor plan released for public comment
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June 2022: Metropolitan Council approval of final corridor plan
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2022–2023: Design of stations and other improvements
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2024–2025: Construction
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2025: E Line service begins
Project Contact
Erik Thompson
Community Outreach Coordinator
ELine@metrotransit.org