https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNORGMETC/bulletins/2aee938   

METRO B Line receives full project funding

During a fifth special session in October, the State Legislature passed a bonding bill that included full funding to deliver the METRO B Line project.

With funding in place, Metro Transit is resuming planning and design work on the METRO B Line with the goal of starting construction in 2023 and beginning service in 2024.

Proceeding with plans after a pause

Metro Transit paused work on several projects, including the METRO B Line planning work, due to COVID-19, the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent civil unrest.

During the month of August, Metro Transit staff went out into the community and listened to our customers and communities in our service area about how this year has changed their transit needs and priorities. We learned that the people and organizations who we needed to engage most on this project, especially those along Lake Street, did not have the capacity to engage on a transit improvement project. 

As community capacity has begun to grow and recovery efforts have started on Lake Street, we are moving forward again with METRO B Line planning. We are committed to proceeding with a safe and equitable engagement process across the corridor. The METRO B Line stands to be a key investment that will improve connections and access along Lake Street, Marshall Avenue, and Selby Avenue from Bde Maka Ska to downtown St. Paul.

Draft Corridor Plan to be released in early 2021

Metro Transit will resume METRO B Line planning early next year with the release of the Draft Corridor Plan and seeking community feedback.

The Draft Corridor Plan will include:   

• Proposed station locations, including which corners of an intersection are proposed for stops.
• Preliminary METRO B Line service levels
• Planned adjustments to other bus service in the corridor
• Opportunities to add potential bus priority treatments, such as bus-only lanes along the corridor

In January and February, Metro Transit will be using a variety of virtual and digital engagement strategies to engage customers and the community around this plan. We’ll also survey transit customers in person at key bus stops to ensure that we are hearing as many voices as possible.

Metro Transit will compile what it hears into a summary report and use the feedback to revise and finalize the plans. The Metropolitan Council will adopt a final version of the METRO B Line Corridor Plan in mid-2021, which will establish the station locations and form the basis for detailed engineering plans. 

BRT-ready transit stops taking shape on Lake Street

Construction of six improved transit stops along Lake Street is under way as part of two ongoing major construction projects, including the METRO Orange Line 35W & Lake Street Station and the Lake Street Connections project. Once work is completed in 2021, customers will be able to use improved shelters with heat and light at bus stops on Lake Street at Nicollet Avenue, I-35W, and 4th/5th Avenue. They will become part of the METRO B Line when service begins in 2024.

Foundation poured for a new bus shelter at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue

Metro Transit is planning improvements to bus service in the Lake / Marshall / Selby corridor with the METRO B Line bus rapid transit (BRT) project. BRT brings better amenities, faster service and a more comfortable ride to our region’s busiest bus corridors. B Line station construction is planned to begin in 2023, and service is planned to start in 2024.