Central Corridor trains to roll 24/7 from opening

Western and Unversity
Pedestrians and motorists cross the METRO Green Line at Western Ave. N. and University Ave. in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, April 18, 2014.
Jeffrey Thompson/MPR News

Trains will run all night long on the light rail line connecting downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis when it opens this summer.

Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb notified Minneapolis City Council members of the decision in a letter sent last week.

The proposed Metro Green Line, or Central Corridor, hours are very similar to weekend hours on the already functioning Blue Line. The early morning trains will run about once an hour.

Minneapolis City Council Member Jacob Frey, who represents Ward 3, celebrated the announcement on his Facebook page. He and other council members had pushed for the late-night schedule.

Metro Transit spokesperson John Siqveland said the agency may need to adjust the schedule so track maintenance can be completed.

"The intention is to run this schedule from opening day forward, then should we determine over time that there are other needs or that schedule isn't working right, then we make adjustments," Siqveland said. "It's just exactly how we do business today on the Metro Blue Line and on our 125 bus routes."

The Green Line is scheduled to open on June 14.

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