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

METRO B LINE

The METRO B Line connects communities

The METRO B Line is a new bus rapid transit (BRT) route that will bring faster transit to Lake Street and Marshall and Selby avenues in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Construction has begun on the B Line and the line is expected to begin providing service in June 2025. While the line is not yet operational, the communities along the transit line have already seen growth and enrichment.

History of the METRO B Line

Construction for B Line began in 2023, but planning started much earlier. Identified in 2016, the B Line will be the fourth bus rapid transit line on high-capacity roadways in the region, improving transit along Route 21, one of the busiest routes.

Partners such as MnDOT, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, and local cities advised the project, and over 1,500 community members shaped its design. Once complete, the B Line will connect Minneapolis and St. Paul, reducing travel times and improving access to jobs, homes, and parks.

What is happening on the B Line?

We're connecting communities.

Even though the B Line is not yet operational, it is already enriching and growing our communities. Since 2014, more than $909 million has been invested along the METRO B Line. All of these developments will soon be accessible with one, short ride on the B Line.

The line itself will connect West Lake Street in Minneapolis to Union Depot in downtown St. Paul. While not directly on the transitway, additional areas can be reached with just one connecting route. The METRO A Line, METRO Gold Line, METRO Orange Line, METRO Blue Line, and METRO Green Line will all connect to the B Line. This means that residents along the B Line can reach Bloomington, Burnsville, Landfall, Oakdale, Richfield, Roseville, and Woodbury with one additional transit ride.

Homes are being built.

Through 2023, communities have permitted 2,300 residential units along the B Line, worth more than $466 million.

Housing can be expensive, which is a problem faced by many residents of those near the METRO B Line. About 31% of the housing permitted and built along the B Line from 2014 to 2023 is defined as affordable. This means that economically disadvantaged residents along the B Line not only have affordable access to jobs, homes, business and communities, but also more affordable housing options.

Businesses have the opportunity to grow.

Commercial development worth more than $155 million has been permitted and built on the B Line corridor from 2014 through 2023. These will not only provide more access to business, but also it will bring more jobs to the corridor – all connected by one quick ride on the B Line.

Communities invest in amenities and connections where we build transit.

From 2014 through 2023, communities have permitted more than $277 million for schools, churches, and other community spaces and amenities along the B Line.

That investment will connect residents with parks and green spaces, walking and biking paths, public facilities, and more public and institutional development along the B Line.

We're creating jobs.

Non-residential development along the B Line constitutes nearly 50% of the permitted and built value over the past decade. Development, in general, creates jobs, while enriching community amenities.

When operational, the METRO B Line will connect communities with jobs, homes, businesses, parks, and people. Learn more about the METRO B 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].