A Metro Blue Line passes through Bloomington Central

TRANSIT'S VALUE

Transit makes our region more accessible and enriches communities.

Public transportation is a vital resource for residents of the seven-county Metro region. Transit connects our residents and communities with plentiful opportunities and spurs community development. Each light rail, bus, shared ride service, and other mode of transportation connect our communities with more ways to play, shop, work, live, and thrive. 

The Twin Cities region gained 333,000 new residents from 2011 to 2020, and we expect the region to continue to grow over the next 25 years. Strategic development along existing and planned transit corridors can help ensure the people of our region are connected to the places they want to live, work, and spend their free time. This transit-oriented development (TOD) also builds communities and supports housing choices.

Between 2009 and 2023, high-frequency transit corridors attracted $19.2 billion in development, accounting for more than 38% of all development in the region. An additional $11.4 billion in development is planned along these high-frequency corridors, representing 68% of the known planned development in the region. This includes more than 31,000 multi-family housing units, nearly doubling the number of residences with immediate access to high-frequency transit.

4659-tap-customer_51845404267_o-270x180-(1).pngAffordable housing for everyone

More than 59,000 housing units were built along high-frequency corridors.

  • 36,300 within a half mile of light rail stations
  • 22,460 within a half mile of bus rapid transit stations
  • 13,600 within a quarter mile of high-frequency routes

83% of deeply affordable (30% of the area median income) housing units have been located near high-frequency transit.
 

Investing in communities

Cities and counties benefit from transit-oriented development, generating an average of $60,000 per acre in property tax revenue, 10 times the regional average of $5,700. This additional revenue reduces the share of overall taxes paid by other properties and supports financially sustainable services for all residents of the region.

Land near high-frequency transit accounts for just 2% of the region’s taxable parcels and generates more than 25% of the region’s property tax revenue.

Efficient land use

The area served by high-frequency transit is 3.4% of the region’s total land area but supports 38% of the region’s permitted development value since 2009.

88% of all mixed-use development (primarily commercial/residential) is planned near high-frequency transit.

Learn more

The full 2024 Development Trends Along Transit report will be forthcoming in early 2025. For additional information about the impact (with data through 2022), view the 2023 transit-oriented development report.
Read about development along each line below.

Light rail connects people to jobs to support their families, schools to get a solid education, doctor's appointments to stay healthy.

Click the name of the line to learn more about investments along the line.

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a package of transit enhancements that adds up to a faster trip and an improved experience. Watch a video about BRT service.

Click the name of the line to learn more about investments along the line.

There are currently six types of public transportation options in the region provided by Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council.

  • Regular-route bus service 
  • Light rail transit (LRT) 
  • Bus rapid transit (BRT) 
  • Commuter rail 
  • Dial-a-ride and shared ride services like Metro Mobility, Transit Link, and Metro micro 
  • Public vanpools