New rapid transit bus line connecting the Twin Cities is set to open Saturday
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A new bus rapid transit line connecting the Twin Cities is set to open Saturday.
The 13-mile line is expected to run faster and stop less between Union Depot in St. Paul and Lake and France streets in Minneapolis, according to Metro Transit officials.
The Metro B line essentially replaces Metro Transit’s slowest bus, Route 21, which runs along Lake Street and Marshall and Selby avenues, transit officials said. Route 21 will retire on Friday after nearly 70 years in service.
The B Line is a response to rider feedback for fast, frequent and all-day service, said Metro Transit general manager Lesley Kandaras.
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“We anticipate it will be about 20 percent faster than the current Route 21,” she said.
That speed is, in part, due to the bus rapid transit line having about a third of the stops of the bus route. The B Line will have 33 stops, compared to Route 21’s 90 stops, Kandaras said.
Although the line will run faster, the B Line will be the slowest bus rapid transit line in the metro system, transit officials said.
She said the B Line corridor has over 100,000 people living within 10 minutes of the line.
“A huge amount of our region just along this single line,” said Katie Roth, Metro Transit arterial bus rapid transit director. She oversees the bus rapid transit lines.
Roth said in addition to the B Line having fewer stops, riders will also be able to pay before boarding, which also makes it faster.
Noting the wide doors on the bus, Roth said, “All of our BRT buses have all-door boarding, which means that instead of lining up at the front door, folks can get on and off through any door of the bus.”
“So BRT is all about less stop and more go,” she said.
The line is also part of the region’s growing transit network. It’s the second bus rapid transit line launching this year. The Gold Line opened in March and transit officials expect the E Line to start service in December.
“It’s going to connect to nine current and future bus rapid transit and light rail lines,” Kandaras said. “So it’s not just about opening the B Line itself but improving connectivity throughout our transit system.”
The B Line will launch around 4 a.m. Saturday and offer all day service until 1 a.m. A ribbon cutting will be held at 10 a.m. in the Union Depot’s East Plaza. Rides will be free on the route all day Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Community celebrations will be held in both cities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Union Depot’s East Plaza in St. Paul and Lake Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis.
A toast will be held today for the retirement of Route 21 at Nicollet Garage, two blocks south of the Lake and Nicollet stop. Metro Transit staff will be present at stations along the route to answer questions from the public.
During the I-94 construction, Metro Transit, the City of St. Paul and Ramsey County will install a temporary westbound bus lane on Marshall Avenue between Wilder and Cretin avenues. Metro Transit said the temporary route will mitigate any traffic delays due to the road construction.
