Metro Purple Line (Minnesota)
| Company type | Planned public transit service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Saint Paul , United States |
Area served | Northeastern suburbs of Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Products | Bus rapid transit service |
| Website | metrocouncil |
The Metro Purple Line, previously known as the Rush Line Corridor, is a planned bus rapid transit (BRT) route designed to link Union Depot in downtown Saint Paul with its northeastern suburban areas. Spanning 15 miles, this corridor will feature 21 stations and provide access to approximately 106,000 jobs within a 10-minute walking distance. Currently undergoing environmental review, the initiative is projected to require a minimum of six additional years for the phases of development, engineering, and construction. The service intends to operate seven days a week, offering buses every 10 minutes during peak times and every 15 minutes during off-peak periods.
Initially named for its planned terminus in Rush City, Minnesota, the transit line adopted the purple color designation in 2017 and was formally incorporated into the Metro system as the Purple Line on July 14, 2021. This BRT corridor is designed to improve regional transit connections and foster transit-oriented economic development throughout northeast Saint Paul.
At one stage, the project considered implementing commuter rail service extending to Hinckley, Minnesota, following a path near U.S. Route 61 and Interstate 35. Together with the Red Rock Corridor and Southwest Corridor, it was identified as a "Tier Two" commuter rail initiative with plans for execution after 2020. The Rush Line Corridor Task Force, established in 1999 and consisting of 22 elected officials representing counties and municipalities along the route, oversees coordination of project improvements.
Projected expenses for commuter rail were high due to the involvement of multiple railroad companies managing the tracks and the necessity to reconstruct segments on county-owned abandoned rail rights-of-way. The existing rail network comprises both Class I and Class III lines. Despite relatively dense population areas along the corridor, ridership estimates were lower than anticipated because commuter destinations are primarily split between downtown Saint Paul and downtown Minneapolis. If realized, the rail line could have connected with the proposed Northern Lights Express in Hinckley, creating a direct transit link between Saint Paul and Duluth.
Alternatives study
Alternatives to commuter rail included options such as bus rapid transit (BRT) along the corridor or light rail transit (LRT) within Ramsey County extending from Union Depot to White Bear Lake. While LRT offers substantially lower operating costs compared to commuter rail, its implementation would necessitate narrowing lanes on East Seventh Street in downtown Saint Paul and would run close to residential neighborhoods.
Local Metro Transit bus routes currently serve Ramsey and Washington counties. In September 2009, the Metropolitan Council allocated $3.4 million toward expanding park-and-ride facilities at Maplewood Mall. A commuter bus service was anticipated to begin operations in September 2010, running from Columbus and Forest Lake, with stops including White Bear Township before terminating at Union Depot. Expected ridership was approximately 200 passengers per day. Both the Rush Line Task Force and Metropolitan Council pursued county and federal funding sources to cover capital expenditures.
A preliminary report released in September 2015 by the Rush Line Task Force narrowed transit alternatives to four vehicle types and routes:
- Dedicated bus rapid transit connecting Union Depot to downtown Forest Lake
- Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train service between Union Depot and White Bear Lake
- Light Rail Transit (LRT) train running from Union Depot to White Bear Lake
- Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) linking Saint Paul and White Bear Lake
A subsequent study phase was planned from Winter 2015 through Spring 2016 to conduct a more detailed evaluation of these alternatives.
Pre-Project Development and Environmental Review Phase
In September 2017, Ramsey County endorsed the Locally Preferred Alternative for a 14-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor extending from Saint Paul Union Depot to downtown White Bear Lake, with approximately 85-90% of the route utilizing dedicated guideways. Originally designed to include 20 stations, public feedback led to the addition of one more stop. The final station placement within White Bear Lake has generated some debate.
Projected costs for the initiative range from $420 million to $470 million, with service commencement anticipated around 2026. The Environmental Assessment published in May 2021 estimated a total trip duration of 45 minutes from end to end and forecasted daily ridership of about 7,400 by the year 2040, with work-related trips accounting for 54% of this figure. Nearly 70% of the route is planned to operate on exclusive transit lanes.
Subsequent stages involve detailed engineering and construction efforts. Upon completion of the Environmental Assessment, responsibility for overseeing the project will shift from Ramsey County to the Metropolitan Council, which will manage finalization and operational phases. The project has advanced beyond planning into development, with an engineering consultancy engaged to assist.
Possible Route Modification
In March 2022, the White Bear Lake City Council, backed by the mayor, adopted a resolution opposing the Purple Line’s extension into their municipality. Unlike light rail projects in Minnesota, bus rapid transit developments do not require formal approval from local governments. While White Bear Lake had initially supported the project in 2020, recent elections brought officials who oppose it.
As a result, Metro Transit and Ramsey County are investigating alternate options such as shortening the route to terminate at Maplewood Mall or County Road E and implementing a "Purple Line Connector" bus service to White Bear Lake. This connector would operate with reduced frequency but maintain service hours using minimal infrastructure while preserving connectivity between the northeast metropolitan region and the METRO system.
In June 2022, the Purple Line BRT Corridor Management Committee unanimously voted against extending the preferred route into downtown White Bear Lake. Instead, service will continue only as far as Maplewood Mall, with potential endpoints including Century College, TCO Sports Garden, or the I-35E & County Road E park-and-ride facility. Due to these adjustments and updated population projections, the project no longer satisfies federal funding criteria and must be revised to remain eligible for Capital Investment Grants.
By October 2022, Maplewood rescinded its support amid concerns regarding eminent domain usage and declining transit ridership following the COVID-19 pandemic. The city requested an extended period to evaluate corridor transit alternatives, with a revised alignment anticipated in early 2023.