Metro Transit once again expanded the coverage of its bus system in the Twin Cities.

On Saturday, the transportation company opened the region’s eighth bus rapid transit (BRT) line, the third of three opening this year: the Metro E Line. The route runs through a 13-mile corridor along major destinations like the University of Minnesota, downtown Minneapolis, Uptown, and the Southdale area in Edina.

Earlier this year, Metro Transit opened two other BRT lines, which are bus lines offering “faster” trips and an “improved experience.” Those routes are along the Interstate 94 corridor east of St. Paul, and along Lake Street, Marshall Avenue, and Selby Avenue.

Metro Transit says there are 117,000 people living within a half-mile of the route, and roughly 17% of those households don’t have access to a vehicle.

With fewer stops, all-door boarding, transit signal priority, and more than three miles of bus lanes, the E Line is expected to run up to 20% faster on average than the route it replaces, Route 6.

“The E Line isn’t just a bus route—it’s a lifeline for thousands of people along this corridor without access to a vehicle,” says Metropolitan Council Chair Robin Hutcheson. “When we invest in transit infrastructure that serves one of our highest-ridership corridors, we’re investing in economic mobility and equity for the entire region.”

Between 2019 and 2024, over $1.7 billion in permitted development occurred along the E Line corridor, the company says. Since last year, Metro Transit allocated $64 million on that project’s construction.

According to Metro Transit, the E Line operates from 4:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, with trips every 10 to 15 minutes throughout the day. That’s a 30% increase in service compared to the prior Route 6 schedule.

As people in the Twin Cities commute in myriad ways, Metro Transit will continue to be a transportation option for many. Within the next five years, 23% of the regional population will be within a 10-minute walk or roll of a Metro station.