Green rail lines with icons of people in a meeting and person sitting by a tree. Text says: "Connecting Communities"

METRO E LINE

The METRO E Line will connect communities

The METRO E Line is a new 13.3-mile-long bus rapid transit (BRT) route that will bring faster transit to the Route 6 corridor (including Hennepin, University, and France avenues) from Minneapolis to Edina. Construction has begun on the E Line and the line is expected to begin providing service in 2025 once construction is complete. While the line is not yet operational, the communities along the transit line have already seen growth and enrichment.

History of the METRO E Line

Construction of the E Line began in 2024. The E Line was designed to replace Route 6. The Metropolitan Council drafted a Technical Advisory Committee, including MnDOT, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, and local cities, to guide the project. The Metropolitan Council also worked closely with a Community Advisory Committee, which included residents, students, and businesses, to shape the E Line’s plan.

What is happening on the E Line?

We're connecting communities.

Even though the E Line is not yet operational, communities along the line are experiencing growth and enrichment. Since 2014, more than $1.3 billion has been permitted and built along the METRO E Line, providing residents the potential of more places to work, play, live, and shop all connected by one Metro Transit ride.

The E Line itself will connect St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Edina along University, Hennepin, and France avenues. Additional lines, including the C Line, D Line, B Line, Green Line, and Blue Line, will connect to the E Line route. This means that residents can also visit Brooklyn Center, Richfield, and Bloomington. The Green Line Extension, when operational, will connect E Line residents to St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie.

Homes are being built.

Through 2023, communities have permitted 3,100 residential units along the E Line, worth more than $916 million.

Affordable housing is another necessity for these communities. About 13% of the housing permitted and built along the E Line from 2014 to 2023 is defined as affordable. The E Line affordably connects our most economically disadvantaged residents not only with jobs, parks, and businesses, but also affordable housing.

Businesses have the opportunity to grow.

Commercial development worth more than $356 million has been permitted and built on the E Line corridor from 2014 through 2023. This will bring more businesses, including shops and stores, restaurants, hotels, and more to communities.

Communities invest in amenities and connections where we build transit.

From 2014 through 2023, communities have permitted more than $53 million for schools, churches, and other community spaces and amenities along the E Line. That investment will connect residents with parks, walking and biking paths, public facilities, and more.

We're creating jobs.

Industrial development along the E Line will bring jobs to the area, with nearly $2 million invested in industrial facilities, factories, and more.

When operational, the METRO E Line will connect communities with jobs, homes, businesses, parks, and people. This gives residents more places to work, play, shop, and live. Learn more about the METRO E Line.

Notes: Information based on data for the 2024 development trends report, which will be published soon. Market forces will impact when developments open. For more information, view the reports released by the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) office, or contact them at [email protected].