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Press Releases

Press Releases

November 14, 2024

Several changes aimed at simplifying and lowering fares were approved on Wednesday, Nov. 13, by the Metropolitan Council. Key changes taking effect on Jan. 1, 2025, include: Making full-priced fares on all Metro Transit’s non-express [...]

October 22, 2024

To enhance regional mobility, the METRO Gold Line, a bus rapid transit line opening in March 2025, will be extended to downtown Minneapolis in 2027. The Gold Line will become the region’s sixth bus rapid transit line when it opens next year, [...]

September 17, 2024

Metro Transit and local partners are expanding the use of bus lanes, signal technology, and other tactics to improve transit reliability across the region. The latest advance comes from the installation of bus lanes on sections of sections of [...]

September 12, 2024

Network Now plan calls for 35% service expansion through 2027 Metro Transit is seeking public feedback on a service improvement plan designed to grow ridership, expand job access, and better meet the region’s changing mobility needs. The [...]

September 4, 2024

During the Minnesota State Fair’s 12-day run, Metro Transit provided nearly 376,000 express and regular route rides to and from the fairgrounds, a 29% increase compared to last year’s State Fair ridership. This year’s ridership growth can [...]

August 15, 2024

Metro Transit is taking additional measures to ensure safe and reliable transit service is available for several upcoming concerts, sporting events, and the Minnesota State Fair. The busy stretch begins on Friday with four consecutive nights [...]

August 6, 2024

Two years after implementing a plan to improve conditions on transit, Metro Transit is seeing a decline in reported crimes and steadily increasing ridership. Comparing the second quarter of 2024 to the second quarter of 2023, reported crime was [...]

July 23, 2024

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 [...]

June 25, 2024

Two bus rapid transit (BRT) lines set ridership records in May, underscoring the growing demand for frequent and reliable service. The METRO D Line and METRO Orange Line each had their highest monthly ridership totals ever in May. The METRO C [...]

June 5, 2024

Through the end of April, Metro Transit has provided more than 15.6 million rides, a 12% increase compared to the same time last year. Bus ridership is up 13% while light rail ridership is up 10% and Northstar ridership is up almost 33%. Through the [...]

June 5, 2024

Media partners: Beginning this month, we will provide monthly updates on newsworthy topics, including ridership, service changes, and ongoing efforts to improve public safety on transit. As always, please contact us for more information or to [...]

April 25, 2024

Met Council is committed to reducing our contributions to greenhouse gas emissions in the region The Metropolitan Council is pleased to announce it is expanding Metro Transit's electric bus fleet following the approval of two contracts with bus [...]

April 24, 2024

Opening in 2025, the lines will put 220,000 more people within 10 minutes of a BRT line station For the first time in the region’s history, construction on four transitway projects is underway at the same time. This includes two new bus [...]

April 3, 2024

2024 Twins season features expanded Northstar Commuter Rail service Fans planning trips to sporting events, concerts and other large events over the coming months are invited to review their transportation options and consider taking transit, [...]

April 1, 2024

Gold Line will be one of three Bus Rapid Transit lines opening in 2025 Saint Paul -- The METRO Gold Line – the state’s first Bus Rapid Transit line to operate primarily within bus-only lanes – will open on March 22, 2025, project leaders have [...]

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024 (St. Paul) A man has been found guilty of murder in the shooting death of Demitri G. Ellis-Strong at Central Station in St. Paul in 2022. Shawn Michael Tillman, 34, was sentenced Monday following the jury’s verdict. Tillman will [...]

August 2, 2018

Upgrades to state's busiest transit hub will provide safer, more efficient experience for thousands of daily customers Bloomington, MN – Aug. 2, 2018 – Regional leaders gathered Thursday morning to break ground on renovations to the state's [...]

March 20, 2018

Representatives from the Metropolitan Council, Metro Transit, Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis and City of Brooklyn Center grabbed their shovels Tuesday morning to break ground on the region's second rapid bus line, the C [...]

December 19, 2017

Metro Transit customers can now discreetly report suspicious or unwanted behavior through text messages. Using the “Text for Safety” feature, customers are put in direct contact with trained Metro Transit staff who can respond by text and [...]

September 27, 2017

Metro Transit's next rapid bus line will bring battery-electric buses to the Twin Cities for the first time. At least six of the 60-foot articulated buses that will be used on the C Line will be fully-propelled by rechargeable batteries, [...]

July 19, 2017

A 29-year-old Saint Paul man has died after the vehicle he was driving was struck Saturday by a METRO Green Line train at the intersection of Eustis Street and University Avenue. Nicholas Redlin Westlake’s car was struck just after 9 p.m. [...]

June 19, 2017

Media are invited to learn more about several transit and road construction projects that will significantly impact travel in downtown Minneapolis and throughout the metro region beginning on Thursday, June 22. Travelers will be impacted by the [...]

March 23, 2017

Track work will improve light rail service in downtown Minneapolis, elsewhere The first of several scheduled partial light rail shutdowns that will allow for track maintenance and repairs will take place this weekend. Buses will replace light [...]

January 13, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS – For the sixth consecutive year, Metro Transit provided more than 80 million annual rides, reaching the third-highest annual ridership since 1981. Metro Transit provided more than 82.6 million rides in 2016, averaging 266,916 rides [...]

December 30, 2016

New Year’s Eve revelers can make a cost free, potentially life-saving choice Saturday by choosing Metro Transit operators as their designated drivers. Local law enforcement agencies, including the Minneapolis and Saint Paul police [...]

November 3, 2016

An app introduced today by Metro Transit provides customers another way to board buses and trains – their smartphone. The app includes a mobile ticketing feature that allows users to purchase fares in advance and to display their fares on their [...]

September 20, 2016

Job seekers interested in pursuing a career as a Metro Transit light rail technician are invited to apply for a spot in a training program that will get underway later this year. Modeled after an industry-first Bus Maintenance technician [...]

September 9, 2016

Metro Transit saw its highest single-day ridership in recent memory when fairgoers mixed with commuters and sports fans across the region. Nearly 370,000 rides were taken systemwide on Thursday, Sept. 1, as the Twins, Vikings, Gophers and Saints [...]

August 10, 2016

Metro Transit is celebrating a top national award that recognizes its record ridership and success in a range of areas, including safety, operations, maintenance and community relations. The agency has received the American Public Transportation [...]

August 2, 2016

More and more people are using public transit in the corridor served by the region's first rapid bus line. Since the A Line opened on June 11, ridership in the service corridor has increased by more than a third. The A Line provides faster, more [...]

June 11, 2016

A new rapid bus line that will provide up to 25 percent faster service than regular route local buses opened on Saturday, June 11. The first of a dozen rapid bus lines to be built by Metro Transit throughout the region, the A Line runs from [...]

April 28, 2016

Community leaders from around the region broke ground Thursday on a project aimed at improving public transit service in the south metro. Metro Transit will be constructing a new skyway-connected passenger platform at the Cedar Grove Transit Station [...]

February 16, 2016

Beginning in March, riders throughout Metro Transit’s system will see a change in the name of one of its most popular light rail stations. The METRO light rail station near the new home of the Minnesota Vikings will be known as U.S. Bank Stadium [...]

January 22, 2016

The METRO Blue Line set a new annual ridership record and system ridership increased for the 11th time in 12 years as customers took more than 85.8 million rides on buses and trains operated by Metro Transit in 2015. Ridership increased 1.4 [...]

December 17, 2015

Metro Transit is reviewing and examining the policies and practices of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) after data shows disparities in the treatment of people of color. Additionally, Transit Police are taking initial, immediate actions to [...]

November 2, 2015

A group of aspiring bus mechanics will be put on track toward a full-time role at Metro Transit through a first-of-its-kind program that combines career training, education and on the-job experience. Launching this fall, the Metro Transit [...]

October 22, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS – Residents are invited to learn more about a continuing study of transit improvements that could be made along the West Broadway Avenue corridor at an open house on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The open house will run from 6-8 p.m. at the Capri [...]

September 11, 2015

Metro Transit provided 575,348 rides to and from the 2015 Minnesota State Fair — an 8 percent increase over last year and the highest ridership on State Fair Express Bus and regular route services ever. The ride total accounted for 16 percent of [...]

July 31, 2015

With only weeks left before millions of students return to Twin Cities Metro Area schools, Metro Transit is encouraging families to take advantage of weekend outings by offering children ages 12 and under free rides on buses, light rail trains and [...]

June 15, 2015

ST. PAUL – Metro Transit officials gathered Monday with community and business leaders to commemorate the one year mark of the METRO Green Line’s light rail service, which has seen ridership far exceeding projections and seeds of economic [...]

April 10, 2015

Metro Transit is giving Twins fans more reasons to take transit to the ballpark this season. Among the most transit-friendly major league ballparks in the country, Target Field is served by the METRO Blue and Green light-rail lines, as well [...]

April 8, 2015

Employers, organizations and individuals that have shown a commitment to sustainable transportation were recognized by Metro Transit and its partner organizations at the 2015 Commuter Choice Awards. The annual awards were presented by Metro [...]

April 3, 2015

St. Paul (April 3) – The Metro Transit Police Department honored 16 officers and three civilians for actions that created a safer community and transit environment at their annual Awards Ceremony this week. This is the 18th year the Metro [...]

March 15, 2015

With this being the inaugural year of the METRO Green Line service on Saint Patrick’s Day, Metro Transit is collaborating with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office and the Saint Paul Police Department to remind revelers to get from A to B [...]

January 30, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS (Feb. 2) – Metro Transit's program backing its commitment to reliable service on the Northstar Commuter Rail Line will be extended through the end of February. Since the beginning of the year, commuters who registered for the [...]

January 28, 2015

Metro Transit buses and trains carried passengers on 84.5 million trips in 2014, the highest ridership tally since 1981. The ridership figure reflects an increase of more than 3.1 million rides, or 3.9 percent, compared to 2013. The increase in [...]

November 20, 2014

Plans to expand the METRO system with a Bus Rapid Transit line on Interstate 35W are moving forward. The METRO Orange Line has received approval to enter project development from the Federal Transit Administration. Set to open in 2019, the Orange [...]

October 24, 2014

Residents are encouraged to provide feedback through the end of November on a draft plan that will guide future expansion of Metro Transit’s local and express bus service. The draft Service Improvement Plan prioritizes 122 proposed improvements [...]

October 14, 2014

More than 1 million rides were taken on the METRO Green Line in September, the highest monthly ridership since service began in June. The 1,063,512 rides taken on the Green Line last month brings year-to-date ridership to 3,477,945. Average [...]

September 25, 2014

A federal grant will allow Metro Transit to build and enhance customer waiting shelters, advancing regional transit equity goals. The Federal Transit Administration announced this week that Metro Transit received a $3.26 million Ladders of [...]

August 19, 2014

ST. PAUL (Aug. 19) – Fairgoers can avoid congestion and ride in comfort to and from the Great Minnesota Get-Together by taking Metro Transit. Metro Transit and partner agencies will provide express bus service to the Minnesota State [...]

July 9, 2014

Plans for the region’s first arterial Bus Rapid Transit Line, the A Line, won approval from the Metropolitan Council on Wednesday. The approved plan includes 20 enhanced stations, faster and more frequent bus service and specialized vehicles with [...]

July 9, 2014

Metro Transit is stepping up to the plate to give fans an affordable and hassle-free way of getting to Target Field and other event sites during Major League Baseball® All-Star Week™. Special Northstar trains [...]

June 26, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS – (June 26) – Metro Transit’s top operators were recognized on Wednesday, June 25, for reaching career milestones in safe driving and exceptional service. Awards were presented to 77 bus and light-rail operators at the Ovations Awards [...]

June 19, 2014

The Twin Cities metro area's second light rail line, the METRO Green Line opened Saturday, June 14, to much fanfare from residents and elected officials alike. The line, which was delivered by the Metropolitan Council on time and on budget, is the [...]

June 5, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS – (June 5) – The Metro Transit Police Department honored 23 officers and six civilians whose actions helped promote and maintain a safe transit environment at the department’s 2014 Awards Ceremony today. The awards were presented by [...]

June 5, 2014

A new stairway-elevator tower connecting the St. Paul skyway to street-level transit at the METRO Green Line’s Central Station opened to the public today. The stairway-elevator tower provides St. Paul commuters, residents and visitors a [...]

March 20, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL – (March 20) – Metro Transit is inviting the public to play a part in the METRO Green Line’s grand opening by submitting artwork for a commemorative poster that will be distributed when service begins June 14. Submissions for [...]

February 12, 2014

Feb. 12, 2014 MINNEAPOLIS – A study of transit alternatives in the Midtown Corridor recommends a combination of rail in the Midtown Greenway and enhanced bus service on Lake Street as the best long-term transit solution for the corridor. [...]