Metro Transit E Line BRT launches this weekend
Metro Transit will debut the E Line bus rapid transit this weekend, replacing Route 6 and providing faster, more frequent service between Southdale and the University of Minnesota with upgraded stations and security features. The agency expects about 3,000 riders per day, and business groups at 50th & France and in Linden Hills—hit hard by construction—are cautiously optimistic the new service will boost foot traffic.
📌 Key Facts
- E Line replaces Route 6 from Southdale to the University of Minnesota with fewer stops and faster, frequent service
- Metro Transit projects roughly 3,000 daily riders; stations add heat, lighting, cameras, emergency call boxes and real‑time info
- 50th & France/Linden Hills businesses reported up to 60% revenue drops during construction but expect customer gains post‑launch
📊 Relevant Data
In 2022, BIPOC individuals accounted for 55-56% of weekday transit trips in the Twin Cities metropolitan region, despite comprising only 30% of the regional population.
Study on Post-COVID Pandemic Public Transportation — Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
In 2022, Black individuals accounted for 32% of weekday transit trips in the Twin Cities, compared to 10% of the regional population.
Study on Post-COVID Pandemic Public Transportation — Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
In the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis, non-Hispanic White residents make up 86.9% of the population, compared to 58.1% in Minneapolis overall.
Race and Ethnicity in Linden Hills, Minneapolis, Minnesota — Statistical Atlas
Reported crimes on Metro Transit decreased from 7,886 in 2023 to 7,402 in 2024, with common incidents including smoking, assaults, and robberies.
Crime on public transit increased, but is on the decline in 2024 — Star Tribune