Ramsey County has teamed up with the Metropolitan Council and the cities of Maplewood and Saint Paul to breathe new life into the old Purple Line, now christened the METRO Bronze Line. Announced on December 2, this revamped bus rapid transit system promises to link communities while prioritizing safety and improving transit connections from the east side across the county.
Stretching roughly 10 miles and boasting 22 stations, the Bronze Line is designed with both community engagement and urban utility in mind. Public officials and advocates packed into Union Depot in Saint Paul earlier this month, sharing their vision of the reimagined transit project. In Maplewood, the buses will run in mixed traffic, and do the same along with designated lanes in parts of Saint Paul, navigating seamlessly through the urban landscape.
According to a release from Metro Council, the project will feature five miles of dedicated bus lanes and two new bridges, aiming for a faster and more reliable service. There's a special focus on key safety and accessibility improvements along Maryland and White Bear avenues. These include high-visibility pedestrian crossings and significant upgrades to adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), increasing the line's overall accessibility.
The Metropolitan Council also highlighted convenience enhancements, such as transit signal prioritization, which should hasten commute times. By cutting out a full roadway reconstruction in Maplewood, the Bronze Line also respects current traffic patterns, sparing residents from extensive construction disruptions. Robin Hutcheson, Chair of the Met Council, shared her enthusiasm: "The Met Council looks forward to advancing this important project and working alongside our partners to bring the Bronze Line to life," a sentiment echoing the line's community-centric ethos.
Moving beyond the Bronze Line's immediate plans, Metro Micro, a shared ride service, has been slotted for a September 2026 launch in Maplewood, anchoring at the Maplewood Mall Transit Center. This service, an earlier part of Metro Transit's Network Now initiative, prefaces the Bronze Line's arrival and aims to fine-tune the local transportation blueprint.
