Bus Rapid Transit coming to Southwest

John Wilson

Metro Transit’s quarterly service change of Dec. 6, 2025 finally brings Southwest Minneapolis something we’ve been expecting for years: the E Line.
The E Line is a bus rapid transit line that will replace the France Avenue branch of Route 6. The Xerxes Avenue branch will remain a regular, stop-every-block local bus, but it will now be Route 36 to avoid any confusion. The E Line will start at Westgate station near the KSTP-TV studios and go through the University of Minnesota area and downtown Minneapolis before hitting Hennepin Avenue (which was just reconstructed partly for the E Line) and France to Southdale. Like all BRT lines, the E won’t stop every block but more like about once every four blocks. It will run every 10 minutes during the daytime on weekdays; a little less often in the early morning, at night, and on weekends. Unlike the regular local buses, BRT lines have ticket machines at the stops, and you buy your ticket or tap your Go-To Card before you get on the bus. This is important to prevent unpleasant interactions with Metro Transit’s TRIP agents, who check people at random to see if they paid for their ride. While many people complain that “nobody” pays to ride Metro Transit, I think it’s wise to expect fares to be enforced. Being prepared is better than a negative encounter with a TRIP agent or having to pay a fine.
Another improvement for people living at the far south end of the Southwest Voices readership area is the restoration of Route 156, an express bus which went between the West 56th and 58th Street areas and downtown Minneapolis via I-35W. This bus will run three times a day in each direction, to downtown in the morning, and to the neighborhood in the evening. During the COVID epidemic, Metro Transit originally canceled Route 156 because ridership dropped severely. Presumably, there is some demand once again.
Testing has begun on the Southwest Light Rail, which is expected to serve real people starting in 2027. Currently, the line doesn’t have power yet; test trains are being pulled along the line slowly by a motorized vehicle specifically designed for that purpose. Things being tested include whether there is safe clearance between the sides of the train and any obstacles, whether all grade crossings are safe, and whether gate arms at crossings are working correctly. Later, they will connect the power and test the trains at normal speeds under their own power. Two years may seem like a long time to test the trains, but I’m sure you’ll agree that it is better to take as much time as needed to make sure they are safe than to have an accident with people on board!
Exciting times are in store for us in the next few years as transit riders. Where do you want to go? Southdale? Eden Prairie? The 54th and Lyndale commercial area?