If you’ve ever wondered why there’s no Route 13, you're not the first to ask. After all, you’ve probably noticed that many hotels and high-rises skip the 13th floor. Metro Transit’s reason for not having a Route 13, however, is based more in practicality than superstition.
Truth is: Metro Transit did have a Route 13 about 25 years ago.
Route 13 began in 1954 to serve the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus, taking over after the streetcar was retired. Both the streetcar and Route 13 buses were owned by the University and operated by Twin City Rapid Transit, then Metropolitan Transit Commission, now known as Metro Transit.
In the late 1990s, Route 13 was a key connector for U of M students and staff, linking them to classrooms as well as nearby neighborhoods. However, around 25 years ago, the University changed how it operated campus bus services, and Route 13 was replaced by Route 121 as part of a regional route renumbering plan.
At the same time, plans for the METRO Blue and Green Lines began moving forward, with the lines slated to open in 2004 and 2014. With frequent light rail service running between East and West Bank and additional local bus connections, Route 13 was no longer needed.
So, it’s not superstition behind the absence of Route 13. It was simply an “unlucky” number for a service that became redundant.
But riders beware: Don’t wait for Route 13 — unless you want to be ghosted!