The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded Metropolitan Council a $74.1 million grant for construction of the Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Minneapolis. The project will improve mobility and transit service in the region’s busiest express bus corridor.
“A robust, multi-modal transportation system for the 21st century is necessary to keep the Twin Cities and Minnesota economically competitive,” said Rep. Betty McCollum. “As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for investments in transit to make our businesses stronger and communities more livable.”
The Orange Line BRT project is a 17-mile, 12-station BRT line that will operate largely along Interstate 35W, running south from downtown Minneapolis through the suburbs of Richfield, Bloomington, and Burnsville. The BRT line will connect riders along the route to major job centers, including downtown Minneapolis, and headquarters for companies like Target, Best Buy, and U.S. Bank, offering frequent, daily service. The total project cost is $150.7 million.
Funding for the Orange Line BRT project is provided through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program, which provides funding for major transit projects nationwide. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law to be eligible for consideration to receive program funds.
Since January 2017, FTA advanced funding for 22 new CIG projects throughout the nation totaling approximately $5.06 billion in funding commitments. With this latest FFGA signing, the Administration has executed 15 CIG funding agreements totaling more than $3.45 billion in CIG funding.
The beginning of the final BRT segment advances construction across all five segments, reflecting steady progress toward shorter travel times, improved accessibility, and a more dependable connection to jobs, businesses, and community destinations.
The visit is part of the SF Fed's ongoing engagement with major employers and industries across Southern California and, more broadly, the western U.S. to better understand regional economic conditions and business outlooks.
Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.
Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.
In Part 2 of a two-part conversation, AC Transit’s director of maintenance joins co-hosts Alex Roman and Mark Hollenbeck to discuss his maintenance team’s work with various types of vehicle, training, augmented reality, and more.
Under this extension, Keolis will continue to manage and operate fixed-route bus service across the East Valley, serving communities including Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, the town of Gilbert, parts of Phoenix, and the Gila River Indian Community.
The new network reflects extensive input from riders and the community through Reimagine DART on what matters most in public transit — and those priorities are reflected in the changes ahead.
