New bus rapid transit line, expanded service coming December 6 

METRO E Line will provide trips up to every 10 minutes on University, Hennepin, and France avenues

Metro Transit will open the region’s eighth bus rapid transit line and make a number of other service improvements on Saturday, Dec. 6. With these latest improvements, Metro Transit will be providing 15% more service than was offered at this time last year.  

The improvements are part of an ongoing effort to expand access and adapt service based on changes in travel patterns. The improvements are outlined in the agency’s Network Now framework, informed by rider and community feedback.  

“We are ending the year not only with more service, but more convenient service in direct response to the feedback we received,” Metro Transit General Manager Lesley Kandaras said.  

The biggest improvement being implemented on December 6 is the opening of the METRO E Line, which will run along University, Hennepin, and France avenues between the University of Minnesota and Edina.  

With trips up to every 10 minutes, the E Line will provide 30% more weekday service than the Route 6 it replaces. With fewer stops and other transit advantages, the E Line will also be more reliable and up to 20% faster on average than Route 6.  

Because Route 6 will no longer operate along Xerxes Avenue, a new Route 36 is being introduced to provide trips every 30 minutes between Uptown and Bloomington.  

The E Line’s opening will be celebrated at Minneapolis College and with a program encouraging riders to visit participating businesses. Learn more at metrotransit.org/e-line.  

New routes introduced in East Metro, schedules changing as roadway construction ends  

Other notable service improvements taking effect on December 6 include the introduction of these new routes:  

• Route 345, providing hourly service every day connecting Woodbury, Newport, West St. Paul, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and Bloomington. 

• Route 725, providing hourly service every day connecting Osseo, Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, and Blaine. 

• Route 827, providing service every 30 to 60 minutes Monday through Saturday connecting Anoka, Coon Rapids, Blaine, Fridley and Minneapolis. 

Additional changes include:  

• Route 156 with express service between southwest Minneapolis and downtown Minneapolis will be restored.  

• More trips will be added to Route 275, providing express service between downtown St. Paul and Lino Lakes.  

• Travel times on many routes will be adjusted to account for the ending of roadway construction.   

Find a full list of service improvements on Metro Transit’s website. For trip planning assistance, customers can call 612-373-333 or text 612-444-1161.  

Hiring success enables service improvements? 

These and future planned service improvements are enabled by successful efforts to hire operators and other frontline staff.  

Metro Transit now has more than 1,400 bus operators, about 150 more than at the same time last year. The agency has also been actively hiring train operators, maintenance staff, police officers and Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) Agents who provide an official onboard presence.  

Job seekers are encouraged to visit Metro Transit’s website to learn more about current and future openings.  

Contact: Drew Kerr, [email protected], 651-387-3928