Light rail trains will run more frequently, and service will be improved on several bus routes, as Metro Transit’s ridership and workforce continue to grow. Among the service changes taking effect on Saturday, Aug. 17:
• On the METRO Blue Line and METRO Green Line, trains will run every 12 minutes between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day. Currently, trains run every 15 minutes.
• On weekdays, METRO Orange Line buses will run every 10 minutes between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. northbound and between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. southbound, up from the 15-minute service currently provided during these times. On Sundays, trips will run every 15 minutes.
• Weekday midday trips on Route 80, operating along White Bear Avenue between the Sunray and Maplewood Mall transit centers, will run every 30 minutes rather than hourly.
As part of the Better Bus Routes program, several changes will also be made to improve the speed and reliability of Route 4. Buses will serve fewer stops and benefit from bus lanes and traffic signal technology that helps buses get through intersections.
“Our riders consistently tell us they want more options and that they want our service to be faster and more reliable,” General Manager Lesley Kandaras said. “The changes we’re making in August directly respond to this feedback and are another step forward towards better serving our riders and making transit more appealing to those who aren’t regularly riding with us today.”
More service improvements are on the horizon. Three new bus rapid transit lines will open in 2025. Pending Metropolitan Council approval, Metro Transit this fall will begin accepting feedback on a draft service improvement plan, Network Now, outlining changes that could be made through 2027.
State Fair Express Bus Service will also be expanded this year, with Metro Transit bringing fairgoers to and from six Park & Rides across the metro. Fairgoers are also encouraged to use the METRO A Line and routes 3 and 61 to access the fairgrounds. For more information, visit metrotransit.org/state-fair.
Hiring success enabling service improvements
Service is expanding as Metro Transit continues to have success recruiting frontline transit workers. More than 200 bus and train operators have been hired so far this year, on pace to reach last year’s hiring record.
Applications are being continuously accepted for many frontline transit work positions, including operators, bus, rail, and facilities technicians, police officers, and Community Service Officers.
To support ongoing recruitment and retention efforts, wages for all ATU-represented positions will increase 4.5% beginning August 1. After that date, starting wages for operators will be nearly $29 an hour while starting wages for technicians will start at more than $39 an hour.
Ridership up 9% year to date
Along with service and workforce growth, Metro Transit is also seeing a steady increase in ridership. Through the first half of the year, Metro Transit’s ridership is up 9% compared to 2023.
To date, nearly 23.5 million rides have been provided systemwide, with average weekday ridership of 143,509. Ridership growth has been especially pronounced on the METRO Green Line, up 17%, and on bus rapid transit lines, collectively up 21%.
August is typically one of the highest ridership months of the year due to the number of large special events.
Contacts
Metro Transit: Drew Kerr, [email protected], 651-387-3928?
Metro Transit Police Department: Nikki Muehlhausen, [email protected], 763-264-9913?