Before the METRO Gold Line opened a year ago this month, Woodbury resident Natasha Fleischman recalls thinking it could be a good way to get to work in St. Paul if she was ever unable to drive again due to health reasons.
In early January, that idea became her reality.
After fainting due to heart arrhythmias, Natasha was prevented from driving and began riding the bus rapid transit line line, coupled with Metro micro and the METRO B Line, services that also began in 2025.
“People never see themselves with a condition that would require them to take the bus, but when something happens it’s nice to have options,” she said.
Natasha, an English and reading instructor at Saint Paul College, is hardly alone when it comes to seeing value in the Gold Line, which provides all-day service along the I-94 corridor between St. Paul and Woodbury.
Altogether, nearly 435,000 rides have been taken on the Gold Line since it opened in March 2025. Riders have said they appreciate its speed and reliability – the Gold Line has the state’s first and only dedicated bus road for seven of its 10 miles – and the flexibility provided by its frequent service.
“Being able to not plan my life around the bus and have the bus kind of planned around my schedule is amazing,” said Nina Graham, a working mom who often has to travel at different times due to afterschool activities and other family commitments.
St. Paul resident Humberto Garcia Munoz told The Pioneer Press the Gold Line gets him to his retail job in Woodbury in 15 minutes or less, half the time it used to take on transit.
Altogether, there are 41,000 residents and 93,500 jobs along the 10-mile Gold Line corridor;16% of households along the route lack access to a vehicle.
Gold Line operators also have high praise for the route. “It’s sweet because I have my own lane,” Gold Line operator Jonathan Dumenya said. No cars cut in front of me...I love this route."
Other signs of success for the Gold Line include:
-
Nearly 25,000 rides have been taken within the Woodbury area Metro micro zone since this service was introduced, with ridership growing steadily every month. Metro micro provides on-demand, door-to-door service that helps connect people to regular route transit.
-
Route 94, which will be replaced by the Gold Line Extension in 2027, saw a 34% increase in ridership between 2024 and 2025. When open, the Gold Line Extension will provide a one-seat ride from the east metro to downtown Minneapolis.
Want to learn how to ride the METRO Gold Line? For trip planning help, call us at 612-373-3333 or text us at 612-444-1161. For in-person support, email [email protected].