Streets.mn is proud to present a ride-along for the opening day celebration of the newest Metro Transit bus rapid transit (BRT) route, on Saturday, March 22.
The Gold Line will provide fast, frequent, all-day transit in the east metro, with key stops at the Sun Ray Station in St. Paul, Helmo Station in Oakdale, and the Queens Station and Woodlane Station in Woodbury. This route travels along Interstate 94.
Arrival and Schedule
We will gather as a group at Rice Park shortly before 12:30 p.m. Then we’ll ride the Gold Line to the Sun Ray Transit Center/ Park & Ride (approximately a 21-minute ride).
We expect to be at the Sun Ray station celebration until 2 p.m. After the festivities, the day is yours! A group will be heading back to Rice Park, but the return trip is not mandatory.
Things to Know
For the first week of service, all Gold Line rides are free! If you need a transfer or additional Metro Transit rides to get to or from the event, please bring your Go-To Card (or purchase a ride in the Metro Transit app)! Food trucks and Cookie Cart (a leadership program for teens) will be at the Sun Ray Park & Ride if you wish to purchase snacks or lunch.
If you are interested in more Gold Line Opening Day festivities, including the ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., check out the entire schedule on the Metro Transit website.
And as always, if you want to volunteer at this event, or future events, please email [email protected] to be added to our monthly meetings and occasional emails.
Getting There
By bicycle: Although each bus has a rack to hold two bicycles, we recommend leaving your bike safely locked to a rack in Lowertown or near Rice Park in downtown St. Paul for the duration of the Gold Line ride.
Metro Transit Green Line: The closest stop to Rice Park is Central Station, a five-minute walk, and the Green Line runs every 15 minutes.
Rice Park is a major Metro Transit hub served by several routes, including Route 21, Route 63 and Route 54.
Wanting more Gold Line? It’s being extended to provide service from Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul! See the Gold Line Extension page for details and an anticipated opening in 2027.