Plans to connect North Minneapolis to an efficient rapid transit system are moving ahead.
The Metropolitan Council has released a recommended station plan for the region’s next arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line — the C Line — running mostly along Penn Avenue North between Brooklyn Center and downtown Minneapolis. The line will connect to both the METRO Green Line and Blue Line light rail extensions.
Planning for the C Line follows on the heels of the Council’s first arterial BRT line, the A Line, which will open for service on June 11 along Snelling Avenue and Ford Parkway in Roseville, Falcon Heights, Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Pending further planning, design and full project funding, construction on the C Line is targeted for 2017 with service launching as soon as 2018.
“BRT represents an important next step in the build-out of our region’s transit system,” said Metropolitan Council Chair Adam Duininck. “It connects people to jobs and businesses to customers with a high-quality transit service that also attracts new ridership. The C Line will help ensure that residents in North Minneapolis have access to all corners of the region served by the transit system.”
Community engagement shaped C Line plans
Comments on the recommended C Line Station Plan are due by March 11. The station plan is the latest step in planning activities that began in 2013 in partnership with Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis. Community input throughout 2015 shaped the station plan.
Metro Transit Project Manager Katie Roth said the C Line will enhance an important service link to residents in North Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center neighborhoods.
From its earliest days, Roth said the project has continually garnered support from project partners and the public who are engaged in helping develop a regional transit network that connects local and regional bus service with the region’s growing light rail system.
“Through the planning process, we’ve had numerous conversations with people on buses, at bus stops, and in neighborhood meetings, and we’ve clearly heard from residents and businesses the need for transit improvements in North Minneapolis,” she said. “The C Line is about addressing those needs and building out the region’s network of high-quality transitways.”
A regional transit network taking shape
The C Line is a newer kind of bus service for the region’s busiest urban streets. BRT is a package of transit enhancements that adds up to a faster trip and an improved experience. Features include:
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Fewer stops and faster boarding for a quicker trip
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Fare payment at the station, just like on light rail
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Enhanced stations with NexTrip signs and heating
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Enhanced security at stations and on buses
Public comments due March 11
Key elements of the recommended C Line Station Plan now open for public comment include the location of station platforms — for example, at what intersections and on what corners — as well as station details and general BRT information. The plan proposes 23 stations along the 8.5-mile route.
After March 11, Metro Transit staff will compile and analyze input, and finalize the C Line Station Plan for Council consideration in April.
Current estimated costs of the line are $30 to $35 million.