Metro Transit will hold four open houses in May to share concept plans for the A Line and gather feedback prior to finalizing the recommended scope for the project this summer. Concept plans for how each station fits into the street and sidewalk will be on display for review and comment.

Monday, May 12, 6:30 to 8 p.m. (presentation at 7 p.m.)
Hosted by Como Community Council, Hamline Midway Coalition, Union Park District Council, Macalester Groveland Community Council, Highland District Council
Hamline Midway Library, Meeting Room
1558 W. Minnehaha Avenue, St. Paul
Served by Routes 84 & 67

Monday, May 19, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Listen and Learn Open House (no presentation)
Hosted by A Line Community Advisory Committee
Merriam Park Library, Meeting Room
1831 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul
Served by Route 21

Tuesday, May 20, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Listen and Learn Open House (no presentation)
Hosted by A Line Community Advisory Committee and Highland Business Association
Chatterbox Pub
800 Cleveland Avenue S., St. Paul
Served by Routes 84, 23, 70, 46, 87

Tuesday, May 20, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Listen and Learn Open House (no presentation)
Hosted by A Line Community Advisory Committee
Roseville Library, Community Program Room
2180 N. Hamline Avenue, Roseville
Served by Route 65

Unable to attend? All plans and exhibits shared at the meetings will be posted to the project website the week of May 12. Comments will be accepted through May 30 via email at brtprojects@metrotransit.org. 

Much like there's a standard "look" for regular Metro Transit bus shelters, there will soon be a standard design for all station shelters on the A Line—and the system of future BRT lines like it. 

Work to design that standard has been advancing since February, when the A Line Community Advisory Committee (CAC) narrowed 10 initial sketch concepts to four designs that best fit the vision for Metro Transit's enhanced bus service.

To gauge broader customer and community reaction to the four station concept designs, Metro Transit conducted an online survey through Facebook and Twitter. 1,100 people weighed in on the designs, strongly preferring two concepts that have since been advanced into a single preferred shelter design, shown below.

In addition to stating preferences for the look of the shelter, many customers provided comments on how the shelters should function for an enhanced experience. Many comments echoed the sentiments we've long heard from customers that have shaped the development of BRT lines: make shelters more substantial and weather-protective, and provide features like real-time information and better maps for an easier experience. 

If you were out on the Snelling / Ford corridor in February or March, you may have seen crews taking survey measurements at potential station locations. This survey measurement work is helping to inform the placement of A Line station platforms and how they will tie into existing sidewalks and streets. Surveys are also used to locate underground utilities.

In April, crews were out in the corridor again, taking sample "cores" of the pavement in front of planned stations. These samples, like the one picture above, will inform what kind of materials are needed to support the street lane where buses stop, as well as the weight of A Line stations themselves.

Survey and geotechnical investigation work is mostly complete, but crews may return to the corridor again to check measurements or get more information. 

In this edition, we spotlight one A Line Community Advisory Committee member who lives in the corridor and is involved with St. Paul's Union Park District Council. We asked for her thoughts on the A Line and why she chose to get involved in the planning process.

Name: Colleen Beagan
Organization/Affliation: Union Park District Council Board Member (Grid 13) and 15-year St. Paul resident
Nearest A Line Stations: Snelling & Dayton, Snelling & Grand 

Why did I choose to serve on the CAC?
I felt it was important to represent the population of people who use transit and do not own a car. As someone who uses Route 84 on a regular basis I wanted to bring my experience and make sure the A Line was designed in a way that addressed the issues riders have, such as connections and trip frequency.

What do you think the A Line will mean for you?
From the moment I learned about the A Line I was excited about how it would make getting around so much quicker. Over four years ago I sold my car, and I do not regret it for a minute. Metro Transit already makes getting around very simple for me. The A Line will make all of my trips even more efficient and provide a great connection to the new METRO Green Line. My hope is that the A Line will encourage more people in my community to use transit.

What issues are important to you as the project develops?
The main issues for me will be ensuring that the stations are user friendly, asthetically pleasing, and that connections to other routes are efficient. Once the stations are built we need to make sure they are maintained. We will also need to make sure riders are educated as to how to use the new service and know the difference between the new route and Route 84 that will still be running on a limited schedule.

There’s lots of information available at metrotransit.org/snelling-BRT. The site is updated regularly with the latest project information, frequently asked questions and information about upcoming opportunities to weigh in on the project.