New B and Gold Lines illustrate the wide range of possibility for bus rapid transit – MinnPost

Transit Investment in the Twin Cities: A 2025 Overview with Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals

In 2025, the Twin Cities witnessed significant transit investments with the launch of two major Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines: the B Line and the Gold Line. These projects highlight contrasting approaches to urban transit and their implications for sustainable development, particularly in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The B Line: Enhancing Urban Mobility and Inclusivity

The B Line is a $65 million, 13-mile route with 35 stops, forming a crucial part of Metro Transit’s arterial BRT (aBRT) program. This initiative aims to upgrade the city’s busiest transit routes by improving stations and buses, accelerating service through off-board payment, multiple doors, fewer stops, and signal priority.

Key Features and SDG Alignment

• Improved Accessibility (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities): Higher curbs and multiple door-level boarding facilitate easier access for passengers with strollers, carts, or scooters, enhancing dignity and reducing delays.
• Speed and Efficiency (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities): The B Line offers faster and simpler transit compared to previous routes, improving urban mobility.
• Urban Space Quality (SDG 11): The route enhances the surrounding city space, calming traffic and creating inviting streetscapes, exemplified by the Lake Street “road diet” and bus-only lanes.
• Social Inclusion (SDG 10): The diverse ridership reflects the cosmopolitan nature of Minneapolis and St. Paul, promoting social cohesion.
• Climate Action (SDG 13): Prioritizing street space for transit supports efforts to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging public transportation over private vehicles.

The B Line’s integration into the urban fabric links diverse neighborhoods across Minneapolis and St. Paul, addressing historic transit gaps and fostering equitable access to city resources.

The Gold Line: Challenges of Suburban Transit Development

The Gold Line, a $485 million project initiated over a decade ago, serves the East Metro suburbs, including St. Paul’s East Side, Oakdale, and Woodbury. Unlike the B Line, it traverses low-density suburban areas characterized by single-family homes, office parks, and strip malls.

Key Challenges and SDG Considerations

• Land Use and Transit Integration (SDG 11): The suburban environment poses difficulties for effective transit due to dispersed land use and limited walkable destinations around stations.
• Accessibility and Equity (SDG 10): While the Gold Line serves important job centers like the 3M campus, surrounding areas remain transit-hostile, limiting ridership potential.
• Environmental Impact (SDG 13): The route parallels Interstate 94, exposing passengers to traffic noise and limiting opportunities for sustainable urban development.
• Potential for Transit-Oriented Development (SDG 11): Future growth depends on aggressive redevelopment efforts, such as mixed-use projects near stations like Helmo and Sun Ray.
• Infrastructure and Connectivity (SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The dedicated guideway and planned 2027 extension to downtown Minneapolis aim to enhance connectivity and transit utility.

The Gold Line exemplifies the complexities of retrofitting transit into suburban landscapes, emphasizing the need for coordinated land use planning to achieve sustainable urban mobility.

Comparative Analysis and Implications for Sustainable Development

1. Cost Efficiency and Ridership: The B Line, with its urban context and higher density, is expected to attract significantly more riders than the more expensive Gold Line, reflecting efficient use of resources (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production).
2. Social and Environmental Benefits: The B Line’s design promotes inclusivity, reduces inequalities, and supports climate action through reduced car dependency (SDG 10, 11, 13).
3. Suburban Transit Limitations: The Gold Line highlights challenges in achieving sustainable transit in suburban settings without complementary land use changes (SDG 11).
4. Future Development Opportunities: Planned extensions and potential transit-oriented developments offer pathways to improve suburban transit sustainability (SDG 9, 11).

Conclusion

The 2025 transit investments in the Twin Cities illustrate the broad spectrum of possibilities for sustainable urban and suburban transit development. The B Line demonstrates how targeted improvements in dense urban corridors can advance multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including reduced inequalities, sustainable cities, and climate action. Conversely, the Gold Line underscores the inherent challenges of suburban transit and the critical role of integrated land use planning to realize sustainable mobility. Together, these projects provide valuable insights for future transit planning aimed at fostering equitable, efficient, and environmentally responsible urban development.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article focuses on urban transit development, improving city transportation infrastructure, and enhancing urban livability in the Twin Cities.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Investment in bus rapid transit (BRT) lines and transit signal priority reflects innovation and infrastructure development.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Prioritizing bus lanes and reducing car dependency contributes to climate change mitigation.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Diverse ridership and transit access in underserved neighborhoods promote social inclusion and equity.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport.
   • Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning, including promoting sustainable transport options.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 11 Indicators
   • Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport (implied by discussion of new BRT lines and their routes).
   • Frequency and reliability of public transport services (implied by references to bus rapid transit improvements and transit signal priority).
2. SDG 9 Indicators
   • Investment amount in sustainable transport infrastructure (explicitly mentioned: $65 million for B Line, $485 million for Gold Line).
   • Length of new transit routes developed (13 miles for B Line, 10 miles for Gold Line).
3. SDG 13 Indicators
   • Reduction in traffic congestion and vehicle emissions due to improved public transit (implied by “road diet” and bus-only lanes to fight climate change).
4. SDG 10 Indicators
   • Diversity of ridership and accessibility features (implied by mention of diverse cultural ridership and accessibility improvements like higher curbs and multiple door-level boarding).

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: minnpost.com