Discussions on how to improve transit on the Cedar Avenue continue this week with open houses that will allow stakeholders to provide input.

The Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority and its partner agencies (MnDOT,the Met Council and MVTA among them) is conducting a review of transit service along the south metro corridor, specifically the Metro Red Line. The Red Line is the area's first bus rapid transit line, which runs 11 miles along Cedar Avenue from the Mall of America to Apple Valley Transit Station.

The Cedar Avenue Transitway Implementation Plan will look at current and future transit needs. The scope of the project includes:

  • Future station locations and design
  • Where buses will run on the roadway
  • Potential bus service improvements
  • Estimated costs for planned capital investments
  • Estimated costs for planned operations
  • Estimated future ridership levels for existing and planned transit service in the area
  • Prioritization for expansion of service and facilities

At open houses Monday and Wednesday, the public can talk with project staff and offer input on what it thinks is needed.

The meetings are from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Cedar Grove Transit Station, 4035 Nicols Road, Eagan, and from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Apple Valley Transit Station, 15450 Cedar Avenue S., Apple Valley.

Here is a link to the project's website.