For those wondering whether anybody would hop on Metro Transit's new rapid bus transit line, ridership figures from the first month indicate they are.
More than 120,000 rides were taken on the A Line, which runs from Rosedale Transit Center and the Metro Blue Line Station at 46th Street and Hiawatha Avenue. Service is primarily along 46th Street and Snelling Avenue.
The $27 million A Line opened June 11 and provides faster and more frequent service than traditional bus service.
Operating much like a light-rail line on wheels, buses stop only at stations spaced roughly a half-mile apart and come every 10 minutes during most hours of the day. Customers pay their fares or validate their transit passes before boarding. A-Line buses also have the ability to request green lights to get through some intersections without stopping.
Another 23,000 rides were taken on Route 84, which continues to provide local service along Snelling Avenue and nearby neighborhoods.