The Metro Transit Blue Line Light Rail route is facing it's largest closure in history. next week.
Monday, June 29 is the launch of a massive, 52-day maintenance project that will completely overhaul aging track and signal equipment along the line, which stretches from Target Field in downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America in Bloomington.
Metro Transit spokesperson Drew Kerr says standard light rail trains will be completely sidelined, requiring a fleet of over 70 high-capacity replacement buses to get passengers across the Blue Line corridor.
"Buses will take more time than trains because trains are on their own track," says Kerr. "They can get places faster than buses can. That said, we've taken some steps to make the bus service as efficient as possible."
He says they're working closely with the airport and event venues to manage the route as construction gets underway.
The overhaul is needed, and part of the regular maintenance needed on its 20-year-old light rail network.
Kerr says the buses will be running every 15 minutes to mimic light rail capacity between Minneapolis and Bloomington.
"This is probably the biggest project we've ever undertaken since the Blue Line opened 20 plus years ago," adds Kerr. "And the length of the closure is just a reflection of how much work we need to do."
Buses will also replace METRO Green Line trains between Target Field and West Bank stations from July 1 – 26, and Aug. 16 – 19.
Construction begins Monday and is expected to wrap-up by August 19. You can find more info on replacement service and timing here.
