New Bus Rapid Transit D-Line Connects Brooklyn Center to Mall of America

Bus riders in Brooklyn Center now have a faster option to reach the south metro.

The new bus-rapid transit D Line has started service connecting the Brooklyn Center Transit Center with the Mall of America. It largely replaces Route 5, the state’s longest bus route at 18 miles.

Metro Transit officials say the reason for the change is to provide quicker service. Route 5 from end to end was roughly 90 minutes. The new D Line will chop off about 15 to 20 minutes.

“The reason why it was so important to largely replace the Route 5 with the D Line is because on this particular corridor, about 1 in 4 people do not have a car,” said Laura Baenen, Metro Transit spokesperson. “And as the state’s longest and one of the busiest bus routes, it just made sense.”

Traditional bus service requires riders to pay as they board. The new D Line allows riders to pay before they board, which helps speed up the ride. In addition, riders on the D Line can exit from three doors.

The new bus-rapid line goes through downtown Minneapolis and Richfield. It has several major employers along the corridor. Those include Abbott Northwestern, Children’s Hospitals and Hennepin Healthcare.

The D Line is also part of a continued expansion of faster bus service service. By 2030, Metro Transit plans to have 12 bus-rapid transit lines in the Twin Cities.

Also See: Metro Transit ‘Ride for $1’ Assistance Program Extended

Brooklyn Center