Construction on the Blue Line, which was initially known as the Hiawatha Line, began in 2001.[4] The line opened in two phases in 2004, beginning with a 12-station stretch from the
Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue station through the
Fort Snelling station in June. In December, five more stations were opened, continuing service south of Fort Snelling to the
Mall of America station.[5] Two additional Blue Line stations opened in late 2009: a new northern
terminus at
Target Field and the
American Boulevard station in Bloomington.[6][7] Construction on the Green Line, which was initially designated as the Central Corridor, began in 2010.[8] The line opened in its entirety in June 2014.[9]
Fares for Metro light rail service are the same as those for most Metro Transit bus services and include unlimited
transfers to other light rail and bus routes within 2.5 hours from the time a fare is paid.[10] Two exceptions exist for Metro light rail services: fares within (but not between) downtown zones[nb 1] are less expensive than regular fares but may not be transferred; and there is no cost to ride between terminals
1 and
2 at the
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).[13][14] Many stations connect with
rail or bus routes. The Target Field station provides a connection to the
Northstarcommuter rail line, while the Mall of America station allows for transfers to the
Metro Red Line bus rapid transit service. The
A Line bus rapid transit line connects with the
46th Street Blue Line station and the
Snelling Avenue Green Line stop.[1] Two Metro light rail stations –
30th Avenue and Fort Snelling – have designated
park and ride lots.[15]
Extensions to both Metro lines are planned as of 2023. The
Blue Line extension will branch northward from the Target Field station, adding 11 stations to the line: two more in Minneapolis, two in
Golden Valley, one each in
Robbinsdale and
Crystal, and five in
Brooklyn Park.[16] The
Green Line extension will branch west from Target Field station and include 16 new stations: five in Minneapolis, three each in
Saint Louis Park and
Hopkins, one in
Minnetonka, and four in
Eden Prairie.[17] The Green Line extension was originally intended to open in 2018 but, as of 2022, was delayed until 2027.[18] Passenger service was planned to begin on the Blue Line extension in 2023, but an issue with securing
right-of-way resulted in the need to rework the line's route, resulting in a new estimate of 2028.[19][20][21][22]
Along
Southwest LRT, two additional stations, both in Eden Prairie, were originally included in plans for the Green Line extension. One, Mitchell Road, was cut entirely from plans while another, Eden Prairie Town Center, was deferred until a later date. In October 2018, Eden Prairie Town Center received a full funding grant agreement and will open with the rest of the line when it is complete.[34][35] Along
Bottineau LRT, four planned stations (Van White Boulevard, Penn Avenue, Plymouth Avenue/Theodore Wirth Park, and Golden Valley Road) were abandoned after
BNSF Railway refused access to their
Monticello Subdivision, forcing Metro Transit and the Metropolitain Council to find an alternative alignment. Three other stations (Robbinsdale, Bass Lake Road, and 63rd Avenue) also along the Monticello Subdivision are still being pursued, albeit outside the railroad corridor.[36]