Buses replace Blue Line trains during summer signal upgrade project

Metro Transit has suspended Blue Line light rail service between Target Field and Mall of America stations and replaced it with buses while crews complete upgrades to the signals and equipment that guide train movements along the route, with hopes to have work completed by the Minnesota State Fair.

The agency says the work, part of what it calls a Track and Signals Phase 2 maintenance project, is intended to allow safer and more efficient train routing, cut down on delays and improve schedule reliability once complete. The full closure runs June 29 through Aug. 19, 2026, covering the entire Blue Line between Target Field and Mall of America.

Riders should expect replacement bus trips to run longer than typical train service because of rerouting and traffic conditions, according to Metro Transit, which is advising passengers to build extra time into their commutes.

Those who want advance notice of service changes can sign up for Blue Line Bus alerts through Metro Transit’s rider notification system, which sends updates throughout the maintenance window.

The disruption extends beyond the Blue Line. Buses will also replace Green Line trains between Target Field and West Bank stations from Aug. 16 through Aug. 19. During that stretch, Green Line riders can transfer to a Blue Line bus at West Bank Station to continue west into downtown Minneapolis or south toward Mall of America, an option that will remain in place from July 27 through Aug. 15 while Green Line service resumes downtown. Riders heading east to St. Paul are advised to exit the replacement bus and board the Green Line train directly.

Metro Transit is pointing Green Line customers toward two alternate routes during the disruption. Route 94 runs between downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis, with a stop at Snelling Avenue, on a regular schedule with increased frequency during rush hours. The METRO E Line also offers an easy transfer from the Westgate or Stadium Village stations on the Green Line, with a direct line into downtown Minneapolis via Hennepin Avenue.

For those traveling to or from Mall of America, the METRO D Line offers another route between downtown Minneapolis and the mall during the closure.

The upgrade work is also affecting cyclists. The Hiawatha bike trail will see detours along certain sections for the duration of the maintenance period, and Metro Transit is asking cyclists to watch for posted signage as work progresses and detour routes shift.

Metro Transit has published a full Blue Line replacement bus schedule for riders planning trips during the closure, along with stop location maps showing where replacement buses pick up and drop off along the route. The agency cautions that dates and affected stations are subject to change as the project continues.