Articulated buses could roll on Central Avenue. (Metro Transit)
A major upgrade to Central Avenue for pedestrians and public transit users is on the way, but Northeasters will have to wait a while longer.
The Central Avenue corridor, which is also State Hwy. 65, has been slated for traffic improvements by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Metro Transit’s creation of the METRO F Line, an addition to the Twin Cities’ existing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line.
The F Line would replace the 10 bus line that runs from University and Central Avenues in the south to the Northtown Transit Center in Coon Rapids.
A Dec. 11 presentation at Edison High School drew more than 100 people, including residents and Central Avenue business owners, to view the current state of planning for the new service, while continuing to seek public input. The project will begin in 2028, three years later than originally planned. MnDOT had scheduled Central Avenue improvements for the later date and Metro Transit felt that moving the F Line part of the project to coincide with MnDOT’s work would entail less disruption to the communities involved.
Representatives from Metro Transit and MnDOT explained 20-plus illustration boards and fielded questions about the project. People were encouraged to view various options on the boards and place stickers on them showing the degree of support or objection.
There are currently five operating BRT lines in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, with two more slated to begin construction this year. Metro Transit evaluated 19 corridors with factors including equity, ridership and costs, and engaged the public to help prioritize our region’s next BRT lines. In 2021, the Metropolitan Council chose the Central Avenue Route 10 corridor as the METRO F Line. The Council’s research found that Route 10 has the fifth-highest ridership in the region, but Central Avenue is also one of the slowest transit corridors, with rush hour average speeds of 10 miles per hour.
Metro Transit said BRT service will be up to 25% faster than local buses, thanks to signal priority, wider stop spacing, off-board fare payments, all-door boarding and bus lanes in some locations. Street stations have lighting, on-demand heat, emergency telephones, security cameras and real-time signs for incoming buses.
MnDOT’s task is to incorporate Metro Transit’s proposed F Line BRT route while adding safety and accessibility features for everyone while improving transit options. The work is expected to include parkway treatments, intersection curb bump-outs, better pedestrian crossings, roundabouts and dedicated bike lanes.
Metro Transit Senior Communications Specialist Laura Baenen said, “Metro Transit will purchase more buses for use on the F Line, employing the recognizable 60-foot ‘articulated’ buses with wider aisles, more seating capacity and additional doors so more people can get on and off easily. These will be similar buses to those used on the C and D lines, which are currently in use.”
Asked about costs, Baenen said a preliminary cost estimate prepared for the F Line project during the planning phase in 2022 came to $98 million. She added that the estimate will be updated over the next few years as design continues and the project moves closer to the start of construction in 2028 .
The project is funded with state bonds, state appropriations, the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants Program and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program.
There will be more opportunities for public input over the next few months, MnDOT will host more public meetings that will include information about both projects. Interested people can sign up for email updates about the meetings when they become available. https://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/centralavempls-columbiahgts/index.html