Metro Transit Network Now Plan

[Tcmetro]

Authorization for a route elimination public hearing on 10/29/2024 is an agenda topic at next Monday's Transportation Committee meeting and the materials show some of the first information of the Network Now plan which will be published in the coming weeks.

There aren't a lot of specific details, but there are some core concepts that stand out:

• Nearly all existing local & suburban routes get some type of service improvement.
• New suburban coverage routes are shown, like the Airport-Woodbury, McKnight Rd, Hwy 55 to Plymouth, etc.
• A significant expansion of routes with 10 min service - as well as those with 12-15 min service.
• 8 new microtransit zones, generally oriented on the Metro network.
• Outside of the Metro lines under construction (B, E, Gold, Green), the only expansion in the scope of the plan is the north end of the G Line.
• Most express routes eliminated. A few routes will return, and a new "Key Express" network will be created which channels express service to a few park and rides with frequent, all-day service.
• 19 park and rides are slated to be closed. These are generally minor facilities with a handful of parking spots, but some larger ones on the periphery are also on the list including Hwy 65/Paul Pkwy and the Forest Lake Transit Center.

Here are the details of the routes to be eliminated:

The Network Now plan proposes to replace four route numbers (23, 612, 717, 801) with
restructured service and are not included in the list of 53 routes below.

Currently Suspended Routes Proposed to be Discontinued
Local Routes 12, 16, 19, 27, 84, 415, 417, 547
Commuter oriented routes 53, 59, 111, 118, 129, 135, 141, 156, 261, 262, 263, 265, 272, 288,
350, 361, 364, 365, 375, 452, 552, 553, 554, 558, 588, 589, 643, 663, 664, 668, 670, 671, 672,
677, 679, 756, 758, 762, 765, 767, 825, 831, 854, 865
Currently Operating Routes Proposed to be Discontinued
Route 501

https://metrocouncil.org/getdoc/cc3a621 ... genda.aspx
https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... 4-215.aspx
https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... ation.aspx

[mamundsen]

That is a LONG list of commuter routes to be discontinued. I do appreciate the new Key Express network being all day service. These past few years it has been hard to make the 270's limited schedule work with only 4 trips each direction. I hope that with this revised express plan, adding micro mobility, and the eventual Purple Line (or further enhanced rt 54.) that Maplewood Mall can revitalize similar to other area malls by eliminating massive parking lots and adding housing or entertainment.

I do wonder if there will be incremental service improves over the next few years or if this plan has a target date for a major overhaul.

[EOst]

the only expansion in the scope of the plan is the north end of the G Line.

Can you elaborate on this? I'm not seeing it in the docs you linked.

[Tcmetro]

the only expansion in the scope of the plan is the north end of the G Line.

Can you elaborate on this? I'm not seeing it in the docs you linked.

The plan covers the network through 2027 so it only sees through implementation of the B, E, G (north), Gold, and Green Southwest lines. Of those only the G Line has yet to start construction. It's on slide 9 of the presentation.

[COLSLAW5]

the G line is planned to go through DT STP but Robert Street South of STP is getting rebuilt and that project was delayed causing the south half of the line to be delayed. Cool to see that they still plan to build out the north half though and not just wait.

That being said, do we not have any new lines opening in 2026? E, B and Gold will be opening next year and Green Line is "2027".

[Bakken2016]

the G line is planned to go through DT STP but Robert Street South of STP is getting rebuilt and that project was delayed causing the south half of the line to be delayed. Cool to see that they still plan to build out the north half though and not just wait.

That being said, do we not have any new lines opening in 2026? E, B and Gold will be opening next year and Green Line is "2027".

F Line and Purple Line were originally slated for 2026, both are delayed. Purple due to route modification and F Line to delay to when MNDOT plans to reconstruct Central, so we aren't ripping the road up twice.

[mamundsen]

The G Line is an example of what the Purple Line should be when implemented. From Maplewood Mall to the airport. Basically further enhancement to the rt 54.

[angrysuburbanite]

Commuter oriented routes 53, 59, 111, 118, 129, 135, 141, 156, 261, 262, 263, 265, 272, 288,
350, 361, 364, 365, 375, 452, 552, 553, 554, 558, 588, 589, 643, 663, 664, 668, 670, 671, 672,
677, 679, 756, 758, 762, 765, 767, 825, 831, 854, 865

There were too many express routes in the first place, some of them duplicative of each other. Glad to see this streamlined more.

Also is it just me or are some of the maps inconsistent? On pages 12-13 route 645 past Minnetonka was discontinued, but page 14 shows it existing with a decent amount of trips per week. Could this mean it will be replaced with some different routing, or am I just not understanding what I'm looking at?

[EOst]

The plan covers the network through 2027 so it only sees through implementation of the B, E, G (north), Gold, and Green Southwest lines. Of those only the G Line has yet to start construction. It's on slide 9 of the presentation.

I understand now--misunderstood your post to mean a change in the G Line's northern end, not the inclusion of the northern half of the line.

[Silophant]

Also is it just me or are some of the maps inconsistent? On pages 12-13 route 645 past Minnetonka was discontinued, but page 14 shows it existing with a decent amount of trips per week. Could this mean it will be replaced with some different routing, or am I just not understanding what I'm looking at?

I think the red line you're seeing on 12-13 is the cancellation of the 677, which must have overlapped the 645?

Exciting stuff! The 58 must be a replacement for the combined 23/612? Hard to think of where they'd be making up a high-frequency route out of whole cloth.

[Bakken2016]

Also is it just me or are some of the maps inconsistent? On pages 12-13 route 645 past Minnetonka was discontinued, but page 14 shows it existing with a decent amount of trips per week. Could this mean it will be replaced with some different routing, or am I just not understanding what I'm looking at?

I think the red line you're seeing on 12-13 is the cancellation of the 677, which must have overlapped the 645?

Exciting stuff! The 58 must be a replacement for the combined 23/612? Hard to think of where they'd be making up a high-frequency route out of whole cloth.

The 58 is a replacement of the 54M, they plan to split the route into two seperate high frequency routes. The 23-612 will become route 38.

[Tcmetro]

Also is it just me or are some of the maps inconsistent? On pages 12-13 route 645 past Minnetonka was discontinued, but page 14 shows it existing with a decent amount of trips per week. Could this mean it will be replaced with some different routing, or am I just not understanding what I'm looking at?

I think the red line you're seeing on 12-13 is the cancellation of the 677, which must have overlapped the 645?

Exciting stuff! The 58 must be a replacement for the combined 23/612? Hard to think of where they'd be making up a high-frequency route out of whole cloth.

The 58 is a replacement of the 54M, they plan to split the route into two seperate high frequency routes. The 23-612 will become route 38.

Good to know - the 58 is almost a "pre-Purple Line".

Love a bus numbered after the street! The merger of the two routes is nice to keep the connection from Hopkins to Uptown, if I remember correctly the old concept plan for SWLRT showed the 612 ending at West Lake Station.

[Bakken2016]

Note: Once the full plan gets released in September, if you have a particular thing you would like to see added/changed. Work with folks you know to submit comments in favor, since it is the draft plan things could change.

[twincitizen]

The 23-612 will become route 38.

I ****ing love getting my way, even (especially?) when takes a decade of harping about it.

[DanPatchToget]

Nice to see a Micro Transit zone proposed for Bloomington, but it looks like it won't cover the transit desert west of France Avenue (besides Normandale Village).

RIP Route 589. You were kind of slow, unreliable, and uncomfortable (back when Gillig Phantoms were common on that route), but you (usually) got me where I needed to go and it was nice being able to bike or even walk to the bus stop.

[DanPatchToget]

A couple more thoughts on this:

I question if most of those Key Express routes will be able to sustain all-day service. With a few exceptions it seems like all-day express service just doesn't get enough ridership.

Still very little service crossing between Metro Transit territory and the opt-out's territories, and I wonder if Metro Transit is working with the opt-outs on this plan at all. It shouldn't be a tall order to get a local route crossing between Bloomington and Eden Prairie, Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove, Inver Grove Heights and Eagan, etc.

[angrysuburbanite]

All I will say is that the frequent express service could be a huge success, but it needs proper advertisement. Like, I think the Orange Line-- which can be seen as sort of a premium version of this frequent express service--could be a huge success, but almost no promotion has been done around it, so it only sees ridership from those 'in the know'. There are definitely people along these corridors who are willing to take the bus to events downtown, but it is not currently possible. The 394 corridor is probably best-suited for all-day service.

Unrelatedly, I do think there are some extremely easy fixes to western Metro Transit services that could probably be implemented right now for basically no cost that should be part Network Now:
1. extension of routes 9 and 17 to Downtown Hopkins (and later Shady Oak Station once it opens)
2. extend route 46 to Downtown Hopkins via Interlachen (with SWLRT opening this can terminate at Blake Road Station)
3. extend route 705 down Louisiana Avenue to replicate former route 604 and maybe in the future expand frequency
These one will probably only be feasible once SWLRT starts:
4. Shady Oak Station to Downtown Wayzata via Minnetonka Blvd
5. Shady Oak Station to Excelsior via Excelsior Blvd & Hwy 7

I kind of see Shady Oak Station as the "bus transfer point" of Hopkins, at least based on how it is designed, but it might work for these to go down Mainstreet instead. These suggestions would also more than oversaturate the transit market in Hopkins, so I dunno.

Edit: I nearly forgot: 6. let route 615 use the mini-Gilligs rather than cutaways.

[J. Mc]

Still very little service crossing between Metro Transit territory and the opt-out's territories, and I wonder if Metro Transit is working with the opt-outs on this plan at all. It shouldn't be a tall order to get a local route crossing between Bloomington and Eden Prairie, Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove, Inver Grove Heights and Eagan, etc.

It appears the new Micro zone covering Mendota Heights at minimum should provide connection between the IGH/WSP area and MVTA route 446. IIRC in a previous Micro presentation it showed or mentioned the zone also providing connection to MVTA. Historically with the Robert St Corridor study MVTA had shown interest in operating some sort of regular route connection between the Eagan area and a transit center on the corridor, likely Northern Service Center. We've also seen Inver Hills CC included on a couple different MVTA reverse commute route plans. I'm guessing some sort of connector service will be offered by MVTA once the Northern Service TC and G Line are in operation.

[Tcmetro]

The plan has been posted in advance of the comment period opening tomorrow. Lot of interesting stuff, looks like it really focuses on reducing the complexity of routes and boosting core frequencies.

https://www.metrotransit.org/network-now

[Vagueperson]

In my East St. Paul neighborhood, here's what concerns me...

The 64 won't go east of Payne and the 58 (formerly 54) won't go west of Arcade north of 7th. So there's no opportunity to transfer between 64 and 58 unless you're on E 7th st. I think it's about a half mile between Payne and Arcade. I guess it's our fault for having two commercial streets deserving transit service so close to one another.

One solution would be to have them swap their north of Maryland routes so they overlap for that short bit between Payne and Arcade along Maryland. In my mind that would make the 64 route closer to what it has been and the 58 route closer to what the 61 has been (on our side of town). And it would allow transfers between the two on Maryland Ave.

Thoughts?