This page can be accessed by clicking the Maps and Schedules tab in the upper left corner of the Metro Transit home page. The Maps and Schedules page provides links to large versions of the maps for the bus system, downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul, as well as a link to the map key and downloads of pdfs of the maps. There is also a link to the Metro Transit interactive map and Light Rail. The Interactive Map is explained near the bottom of this page and the Light Rail information is on the next page.
Click the map below for a larger image of the Maps and Schedules page.
Individual route maps are available online as printable pdfs and they can be ordered by mail, picked up on buses, or obtained at the metro transit stores listed below. Transit stores also sell train passes.
The Downtown MinneapolisTransit Store is at 719 Marquette Avenue. The hours are Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The St. Paul Transit Store is at Skyway, US Bank Center 101 E. 5th Street. The hours are Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Order Info and Map/Schedules by Mail
Individual map/schedules and information brochures can be ordered by mail using the link above.
Click on image below to view an example of a service alert (after a route is chosen).
Service alerts are for short term changes or detours due to events such as building construction or road work being done at a bus stop. These can even be due to a sporting event where the detour lasts for less than a full day.
You can find service alerts using the link above or by choosing Detours and Alerts from the trip planning tools menu in the upper right corner of the home page (and other pages too). On the mobile version it is called Rider Alerts.
There is another category of change and detour due to the construction of the new light rail line. These are found in the trip planning menus but it is generally best to view them on the special construction update page where there are links to maps showing the changes.
Light Rail Construction Updates
The section below was copied directly from the Metro Transit website. The U of M and Downtown St. Paul detours links contain maps showing current bus routes and stops in the impacted neighborhoods. You can also use this section to learn more about the light-rail project.
Detours along Washington and University Avenues and in downtown St. Paul
Work has begun on the new light-rail line that will link downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota and downtown St. Paul. Bus service continues, but expect construction-related detours and bus stop closures.
Use our interactive transit map for the latest bus stop closures. >>>>>
The map is updated weekly. Only the bus stops that are being served at this time appear on the map.
If you have questions about route detours or bus stop locations, call 612-373-3333.
For construction-related comments, call 651-602-1404. Learn more about the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit project.
> Major detours in downtown St. Paul
> Construction timelines by area
> Safety tips during construction
> Watch simulations of trains in action
Central Corridor Light Rail Line Construction
The Metropolitan Council's website with information about the new Central Corridor Light Rail Transit project.
Both Minneapolis and St. Paul have "downtown zones" where the fare is only fifty cents. The link above explains the rules and has links to the full map of the downtown zones for both Minneapolis and St. Paul. The map below just shows a section of the Minneapolis map.
The map below displays a portion of the Downtown Zone Map for Minneapolis.The dashed gray line shows the boundary. Click the map below for a larger view of this image. Click on the Downtown Zone link above to view the entire Minneapolis and St. Paul maps and stops.
This is a link to a pdf version of the printed map/schedule for Route 9. Maps are available for Light Rail, Northstar, and every bus route by using the menus on the Maps and Schedules page. You can also see maps of individual routes by selecting them from your Trip Plan results.
Click on image to view a larger version.
The text above links to the pdf version of the Route 6 map/schedule.
A portion of the route appears in red because that segment of the route is part of the hi-frequency network.
The links from here until the Interactive Map section can be found on the home page by selecting Bus in the pull down menu for the Maps and Schedules tab.
Hi-Frequency Network Service Description
This page shows how to recognize the signs for the Hi-frequency network system routes. These routes offer service "every 15 minutes (or better)" on Weekdays from 6 am to 7 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm.
Click on image to view a larger version of this map.
Hi-Frequency Network Service Map
This map shows the routes and portions of routes currently with frequent service. These routes are parts of routes 5, 6, 10, 18, 19, 21, 64, 84, and 515 and all of the Hiawatha Light Rail line (55), route 16, and route 54.
Free Ride Bus Stop by Andy Tucker
The text below was copied from the Metro Transit Website
"Look for buses marked “Free Ride” and pay no fare when boarding along Nicollet Mall. You’ll have an easy ride between the Convention Center and the Hiawatha light-rail line. Your ride is green, too -- only hybrid buses operate on Nicollet Mall!
Free Ride buses are available seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Pay just 50 cents if you ride within the Downtown Zone on any other bus along Nicollet Mall."
Click photo to the left for other sizes on Flickr
Link to Andy Tucker's Photostream
Marquette & 2nd Avenue Bus Stops - Express Bus Service
This page contains a link to a map of the bus stops on Marquette & 2nd. The small version at the bottom of this section links to a larger version but not to the web page. I copied their information about the improvements in this transit corridor and their links to other transit companies' websites that provide service here.
The text below was copied from The Metro Transit website:
The reconstruction in late 2009 of Marquette Avenue and 2nd Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis has transformed express bus service for thousands of daily commuters
Rebuilt streets feature side-by-side bus-only lanes for faster trips through downtown
Comfortable shelters are heated and well-lit, with detailed transit information
NexTrip signs count down to bus departures in real-time
Wider sidewalks feature trees, bike racks and public art
These providers operate express service in this corridor:
> Metro Transit
> Maple Grove Transit
> Minnesota Valley Transit Authority
> Plymouth Metrolink
> SouthWest Transit
> BlueXpress
Click on the image below to view a larger version of the bus stop map or click on the title above for the full Marquette & 2nd Ave. page. This map is also shown on the Marq2-Review website below this.
Marq2-Review from City of Lakes Urbanism
Marq2 is the abbreviation for the Marquette Ave. and Second Ave. Transit Project. This section from the excellent City of Lakes Urbanism blogspot contains a thoughtful review of the project. It includes some history of and information about the project along with maps and photos.
The Interactive Map feature can be accessed from the pull down menu in the Maps & Schedules tab on the Metro Transit home page. It can also be found as an option when you click the Maps & Schedules tab on the home page as an option on the map shown like the first map on this page.
The Interactive Map has different functions at different zoom levels. This map is on the full site version and is somewhat helpful on a tablet but great on a netbook or larger. When it is opened, a window appears containing a brief description of how to use the map.
At the zoom level below you can select up to 5 routes to show on the map. The map is zoomed in to about 60% and then cropped. In the upper left hand corner there is an option to switch between the base map view and an aerial view.
Clicking on the first map links to the full sized Interactive Map on the Metro Transit website.
Clicking on the others, links to the full sized versions of my screen captures from that map.
Click on the map below to view a full size version of the screen capture.
At the zoom level shown below, you can see where stops are located along the routes. The dashed green lines represent bikeways.
Clicking on the map below links to the full sized view of my screen capture taken from the Interactive Map.
At the fully zoomed in level, you can tell that the stop with the note is the corner to stand on to go North. On the full size version of this photo, you can read the stop # and the route #. You can also view the NexTrip table and access the trip planner for this stop.
