The countdown to the METRO Green Line's opening can now be measured down to the second.
On Wednesday, Metropolitan Council Chair Sue Haigh joined project partners at Union Depot Station to announce that light-rail vehicles will begin running between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul beginning Saturday, June 14.
"Starting service 60 years to the month after the last streetcar left the Twin Cities is fitting," Haigh said. "For me, seeing two vibrant downtowns, numerous job, education and medical centers and tens of thousands of people connected by this project is the most exciting part."
The Met Council, Metro Transit and project partners are collaborating with the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative, business owners and community leaders to coordinate opening day celebrations at select stations along the 11-mile corridor. Free rides will be offered on the Green Line and all of Metro Transit's other rail and bus routes June 14 and 15.
METRO Green Line construction is now 98 percent complete. As construction winds down, testing and rail operator training will ramp up between now and opening day.
On the same day Green Line trains begin running, bus service changes will go into effect throughout the corridor. Service is being adjusted and improved to provide better connections to Green Line stations.
Read coverage of today's announcement in the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, KSTP, KARE 11, Fox 9, WCCO, Minnesota Daily, Finance & Commerce and at Minnesota Public Radio.
> Green Line countdown
> June 14, 2014: Grand opening for METRO Green Line
> Central Corridor transit service changes
> Good Question: How much will it cost to ride the METRO Green Line?
Reactions to this morning's announcement on Twitter.