Government Plaza station
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | June 26, 2004 |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis , United States |
| Products | Metro Blue Line and Green Line light rail services |
Government Plaza station serves as a Metro light rail stop on both the Blue Line and Green Line within downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Positioned along 5th Street South between 3rd and 4th Avenues South, this station commenced operations on June 26, 2004, coinciding with the introduction of the initial light rail service in the Twin Cities area.
History and design
In 1905, streetcars operated by Twin Cities Rapid Transit (TCRT) began running along 5th Street to alleviate traffic congestion. By 1920, the prominent Interurban route connecting Downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul was redirected to this corridor before transitioning to bus service by 1953. During the mid-1960s, Fifth Avenue was converted into a westbound one-way street amid the construction of Interstates 94 and 35W. Despite these changes, the corridor remained essential for westbound transit, with express buses introduced in 1976 and the limited-stop Route 50 launched in 1998. To compensate for reduced westbound bus movement during light rail construction, a contraflow bus lane was implemented on adjacent 4th Street South. Construction of the downtown station began in summer 2002. The Blue Line started serving this station on June 26, 2004, followed by the Green Line on June 14, 2014.
The station's architectural design was crafted by Barbour LaDouceur Architects in collaboration with artist Seitu Jones, drawing inspiration from nearby historic structures. The shelters are strategically spaced to maintain clear views of Minneapolis City Hall, incorporating stone bases that echo its red granite façade and canopy trusses influenced by the Milwaukee Road Depot train shed close by. The platforms feature semicircular shelters oriented toward travel direction, with brickwork that extends seamlessly into the adjoining plaza.
This station features two side platforms that extend into the pedestrian sidewalk area, resulting in the closure of 5th Street to vehicular traffic—the sole segment of light rail track in Minneapolis without adjacent vehicle lanes. Initially designed to accommodate two-car trains, the platform length was increased from to in June 2009 to support longer train sets.
For nighttime service on the Green Line and during rail disruptions, replacement buses stop nearby: westbound buses halt at 4th Avenue, while eastbound buses pick up passengers one block away on 5th Avenue.
Public art
The public art piece titled Local Connections: Minneapolis Views and Visions of Democracy by Keith Christensen comprises two granite pillars delineating the boundary between the southbound platform and plaza area. This installation includes eight images printed on double-sided enameled glass panels housed within shelters. These panels depict community members’ work gloves alongside aerial photographs of Minneapolis neighborhoods. The gloves symbolize workforce diversity and democratic participation, while the aerial views offer a wider perspective of the city. Accompanying textual elements about community and civic engagement are presented in five languages commonly spoken in Minneapolis: English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong, and Ojibwe.
Janet Zweig’s Small Kindness, Weather Permitting consists of four interactive boxes located at the station: All the way around! #17, Ring the bell and see. #18, Go ahead and let it snow. #23, and Open the curtains please. #27.
Noteworthy locations in the vicinity
Surrounding the station are prominent government offices that align with its designation, such as Minneapolis City Hall, Hennepin County Government Center, the Minneapolis Federal Courthouse, Hennepin County Public Safety Facility, and the Minneapolis Public Service Building. Positioned next to the southbound platform lies The People's Plaza. Access to the Minneapolis Skyway System is available through City Hall or Government Center, featuring an uncommon underground passage beneath the station.
In close proximity, notable structures include the CenturyLink Building, U.S. Bank Plaza, and Capella Tower. Within a two to three block radius, passengers can transfer to the C Line and D Line at 7th–8th Street & 3rd/4th Avenue.
See also
- Capitol/Rice Street, a Green Line light rail stop located near the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul.