Metro Transit has announced that it’s planned METRO H Line will now begin moving toward detailed engineering, with HDR now having been selected to provide engineering and construction administration services for the new BRT corridor across Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
The new, 17-mile corridor will provide a link between downtown Minneapolis and the Sun Ray Transit Center on the east side of St. Paul’s.
For its part; HDR’s team will provide project project management, station and civil design, transit systems and technology, electrical and traffic engineering, public engagement, risk management, and construction administration.
The firm has previously worked on Metro Transit’s C, D, and E Lines, has contributed to two other lines, and currently serves as a partner on the upcoming Bronze Line.
Once operational, the H Line will act as the eighth ‘arterial’ BRT line within the METRO network. The operator has claimed that its BRT service can be up to 25% faster than local buses through the use of transit-signal priority, wider stop spacing, off-board fare payment, all-door boarding, and, in some locations, dedicated bus lanes.
The movement of plans follows a recent surge in demand for the service, with BRT ridership having risen 115% from 2022 to 2024 and now representing approximately 16% of regional rides.
