Ramsey County and regional partners have unveiled the METRO Bronze Line, a reimagined bus rapid transit project designed to improve connections between Maplewood, Downtown St. Paul and the East Side while emphasizing community input, safety and accessibility.

The approximately 10-mile line will include 22 stations, five miles of dedicated bus lanes and two new bridges. The project builds on the former Purple Line concept and will be funded entirely with local dollars, with Ramsey County covering about 90% of the cost.

Commissioner Mai Chong Xiong said the local funding approach allows greater flexibility and certainty in design, schedule and cost while ensuring the project reflects community needs. The line will operate in mixed traffic in Maplewood and a combination of dedicated lanes and mixed traffic in St. Paul.

Stations will feature near-level boarding platforms, real-time arrival information, lighting, security cameras and seasonal shelters. Vehicles will support all-door boarding and off-board fare collection to reduce dwell times. The project also includes safety and accessibility improvements along Maryland and White Bear avenues, such as upgraded pedestrian crossings and transit signal prioritization.

The redesign eliminates a full roadway reconstruction in Maplewood, preserving existing traffic patterns. In advance of the Bronze Line, Metro Transit will introduce Metro Micro, a shared-ride service anchored at the Maplewood Mall Transit Center, in September 2026.

Public engagement is underway, with recommendations set to be reviewed by advisory committees and later presented to city councils and the Ramsey County Board. Officials say the project aims to advance equitable transit access and strengthen regional connections.

Learn more at metrotransit.org/bronze-line-project.