List of Metro (Minnesota) light rail stations

Metro is a public transportation network consisting of light rail and bus rapid transit services covering the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. The light rail portion of the network, managed by Metro Transit, has 37 light rail stations in operation across two lines: the Blue Line, running from downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the Green Line, connecting downtown Minneapolis to downtown Saint Paul.[1] In 2016, the Blue and Green lines respectively provided approximately 10.3 million and 12.7 million rides for a total of 23 million rides across both lines.[2] By ridership, it is the ninth-largest light rail system in the United States.[3]

A simple transit diagram with a green line stretching roughly left to right (west to east) and a blue line stretching roughly top to bottom (north to south). A light blue river runs from the top right to the bottom right, roughly following the shape of a ladle. Another thinner waterway runs straight from center-left to connect with the river near the center of the image.
Map of the Metro system as it stood in September 2017, showing the Blue and Green lines

Construction on the Blue Line, which was initially known as the Hiawatha Line, began in 2001.[4] The line opened in two phases in 2004, beginning with a 12-station stretch from the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue station through the Fort Snelling station in June. In December, five more stations were opened, continuing service south of Fort Snelling to the Mall of America station.[5] Two additional Blue Line stations opened in late 2009: a new northern terminus at Target Field and the American Boulevard station in Bloomington.[6][7] Construction on the Green Line, which was initially designated as the Central Corridor, began in 2010.[8] The line opened in its entirety in June 2014.[9]

Fares for Metro light rail service are the same as those for most Metro Transit bus services and include unlimited transfers to other light rail and bus routes within 2.5 hours from the time a fare is paid.[10] Two exceptions exist for Metro light rail services: fares within (but not between) downtown zones[nb 1] are less expensive than regular fares but may not be transferred; and there is no cost to ride between terminals 1 and 2 at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).[13][14] Many stations connect with rail or bus routes. The Target Field station provides a connection to the Northstar commuter rail line, while the Mall of America station allows for transfers to the Metro Red Line bus rapid transit service. The A Line bus rapid transit line connects with the 46th Street Blue Line station and the Snelling Avenue Green Line stop.[1] Two Metro light rail stations – 30th Avenue and Fort Snelling – have designated park and ride lots.[15]

Extensions to both Metro lines are planned as of 2023. The Blue Line extension will branch northward from the Target Field station, adding 11 stations to the line: two more in Minneapolis, two in Golden Valley, one each in Robbinsdale and Crystal, and five in Brooklyn Park.[16] The Green Line extension will branch west from Target Field station and include 16 new stations: five in Minneapolis, three each in Saint Louis Park and Hopkins, one in Minnetonka, and four in Eden Prairie.[17] The Green Line extension was originally intended to open in 2018 but, as of 2022, was delayed until 2027.[18] Passenger service was planned to begin on the Blue Line extension in 2023, but an issue with securing right-of-way resulted in the need to rework the line's route, resulting in a new estimate of 2028.[19][20][21][22]

Stations

Target Field station is the northern terminus for both the Green and Blue lines.[1]
The elevated Lake Street/Midtown station on the Blue Line
The underground Terminal 1–Lindbergh station on the Blue Line
Saint Paul Union Depot, the Green Line's southern terminus
Legend
*Downtown fare zone stations
Terminal stations
*†Terminal / downtown fare zone stations
Free airport zone
Lines
Extant Metro light rail stations
StationLinesLocalityOpenedRef(s).
10th Street*Saint PaulJune 14, 2014[12][23]
30th AvenueBloomingtonDecember 4, 2004[24][25]
38th StreetMinneapolisJune 26, 2004[26]
46th StreetMinneapolisJune 26, 2004[26]
50th Street/Minnehaha ParkMinneapolisJune 26, 2004[26]
American BoulevardBloomingtonDecember 12, 2009[27]
Bloomington CentralBloomingtonDecember 4, 2004[25]
Capitol/Rice Street*Saint PaulJune 14, 2014[12][23]
Cedar-RiversideMinneapolisJune 26, 2004[26]
Central*Saint PaulJune 14, 2014[12][23]
Dale StreetSaint PaulJune 14, 2014[23]
East BankMinneapolisJune 14, 2014[23]
Fairview AvenueSaint PaulJune 14, 2014[23]
Fort SnellingFort SnellingJune 26, 2004[26][28]
Franklin AvenueMinneapolisJune 26, 2004[26]
Government Plaza* MinneapolisJune 26, 2004[26][11]
Hamline AvenueSaint PaulJune 14, 2014[23]
Lake Street/MidtownMinneapolisJune 26, 2004[26]
Lexington ParkwaySaint PaulJune 14, 2014[23]
Mall of AmericaBloomingtonDecember 4, 2004[25][29]
Nicollet Mall* MinneapolisJune 26, 2004[26][11]
Prospect ParkMinneapolisJune 14, 2014[23][30]
Raymond AvenueSaint PaulJune 14, 2014[23]
Robert Street*Saint PaulJune 14, 2014[12][23]
Saint Paul Union Depot*†Saint PaulJune 14, 2014[12][23]
Snelling AvenueSaint PaulJune 14, 2014[23]
Stadium VillageMinneapolisJune 14, 2014[23]
Target Field*† MinneapolisNovember 14, 2009[6][11]
Terminal 1–Lindbergh Fort SnellingDecember 4, 2004[14][25][28]
Terminal 2–Humphrey Fort SnellingDecember 4, 2004[14][25][28]
U.S. Bank Stadium* MinneapolisJune 26, 2004[26][11]
VA Medical CenterFort SnellingJune 26, 2004[26][28]
Victoria StreetSaint PaulJune 14, 2014[23]
Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue* MinneapolisJune 26, 2004[26][11]
West BankMinneapolisJune 14, 2014[23]
Western AvenueSaint PaulJune 14, 2014[23]
WestgateSaint PaulJune 14, 2014[23][30]

Planned stations

The site of the planned Royalston Avenue/Farmers Market station on the extended Green Line in Minneapolis[31]
Work underway in 2019 on the SouthWest station, part of the extended Green Line to Eden Prairie
Planned Metro light rail stations
Station[16][17]LinesLocality[16][17]Planned opening[32][33]
63rd AvenueBrooklyn Park2028
85th AvenueBrooklyn Park2028
93rd AvenueBrooklyn Park2028
Bass Lake RoadCrystal2028
Bassett Creek ValleyMinneapolis2027
Beltline BoulevardSaint Louis Park2027
Blake RoadHopkins2027
Brooklyn BoulevardBrooklyn Park2028
Bryn MawrMinneapolis2027
City WestEden Prairie2027
Downtown HopkinsHopkins2027
Eden Prairie Town CenterEden Prairie2027
Golden Triangle Eden Prairie2027
Golden Valley RoadGolden Valley2028
Louisiana AvenueSaint Louis Park2027
Oak Grove ParkwayBrooklyn Park2028
OpusMinnetonka2027
Penn AvenueMinneapolis2028
Plymouth Avenue/Theodore Wirth ParkGolden Valley2028
RobbinsdaleRobbinsdale2028
Royalston Avenue/Farmers Market Minneapolis2027
Shady OakHopkins2027
SouthWestEden Prairie2027
Van White BoulevardMinneapolis2028
West 21st StreetMinneapolis2027
West Lake StreetMinneapolis2027
Wooddale AvenueSaint Louis Park2027

Deferred/cancelled stations

Along Southwest LRT, two additional stations, both in Eden Prairie, were originally included in plans for the Green Line extension. One, Mitchell Road, was cut entirely from plans while another, Eden Prairie Town Center, was deferred until a later date. In October 2018, Eden Prairie Town Center received a full funding grant agreement and will open with the rest of the line when it is complete.[34][35] Along Bottineau LRT, four planned stations (Van White Boulevard, Penn Avenue, Plymouth Avenue/Theodore Wirth Park, and Golden Valley Road) were abandoned after BNSF Railway refused access to their Monticello Subdivision, forcing Metro Transit and the Metropolitain Council to find an alternative alignment. Three other stations (Robbinsdale, Bass Lake Road, and 63rd Avenue) also along the Monticello Subdivision are still being pursued, albeit outside the railroad corridor.[36]

Notes

References

External links