MINNEAPOLIMEDIA COMMUNITY NEWS | Metro Transit Reshapes North Metro Bus Network as Major Service Changes Take Effect in Coon Rapids, Blaine and Anoka

COON RAPIDS, MN (June 13, 2026) For many North Metro residents, Saturday morning marked the beginning of a different transit map.

Metro Transit implemented a sweeping package of quarterly service changes on June 13, restructuring routes, introducing a new local corridor, expanding service frequencies, and modifying schedules across the Twin Cities metropolitan area as part of its long-term Network Now initiative.

While the changes affect dozens of routes throughout the region, some of the most significant impacts are occurring in Anoka County communities, where bus service in Coon Rapids, Blaine, and Anoka has been redesigned around a growing reality facing transit agencies nationwide: travel patterns have changed.

The traditional rush-hour commute to downtown Minneapolis remains an important part of the transit system, but it no longer defines it. Increasingly, riders are traveling throughout the day to reach schools, healthcare providers, retail centers, industrial employers, community colleges, and suburban job hubs. Metro Transit officials say the latest adjustments are intended to reflect those evolving travel patterns while improving reliability and making the system easier to navigate.

The service changes are guided by Metro Transit's Network Now framework, a long-range planning effort developed through public engagement, rider feedback, operational data, and travel-demand analysis conducted throughout the metropolitan region.

The June adjustments represent another step in implementing that strategy.

A New Local Corridor Emerges

At the center of the North Metro redesign is the launch of Route 802, a new local route connecting three important transit and employment destinations: Anoka Technical College, Foley Boulevard Park & Ride, and Northtown Transit Center.

The new corridor replaces portions of both Routes 827 and 850, consolidating service that previously operated through multiple route branches.

Transit planners describe the route as a foundational local connector designed to simplify travel while preserving access to major destinations throughout the northern suburbs.

Route 802 operates every 30 to 60 minutes on weekdays and every hour on weekends.

For riders traveling between educational institutions, park-and-ride facilities, commercial districts, and transit hubs, the route creates a more direct and predictable connection than the system it replaces.

Expanded Service on Route 805

Another major change affects Route 805, which serves portions of Coon Rapids, Anoka, and neighboring communities.

Beginning Saturday, weekday service between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. now operates every 30 minutes, significantly increasing midday transit availability.

The route also gains new Sunday service, providing residents with an additional transportation option during a period when transit service is often more limited.

Metro Transit has also adjusted the route alignment. Buses will now operate along Northdale Boulevard between Riverdale Commons and 119th Avenue and along 9th Avenue north of Lincoln Street.

Agency officials say the routing changes and revised schedules are intended to improve operational reliability while maintaining service coverage.

Route 827 Focuses on Downtown Service

Route 827 has been shortened and now operates exclusively between downtown Minneapolis and Northtown Transit Center.

The northern segment connecting Northtown Transit Center to Anoka Technical College has been eliminated and replaced by the new Route 802.

Metro Transit says the change reduces overlap between routes while maintaining access to affected destinations through the redesigned network.

Passengers traveling to Foley Boulevard Park & Ride may continue to use select weekday trips on Route 25.

Significant Changes to Route 850

Among the most substantial adjustments in the North Metro network is the restructuring of Route 850.

All route branches operating north of Foley Boulevard Park & Ride have been discontinued.

The former Route 850A branch connecting Anoka Technical College and Foley Boulevard Park & Ride has been replaced by Route 802.

Meanwhile, the Route 850N branch connecting Coon Rapids-Riverdale Park & Ride and Foley Boulevard Park & Ride has been eliminated entirely.

Alternative service for those riders is available through Routes 805 and 888.

While portions of the route have been removed, service frequency along the remaining core corridor has increased. During rush-hour periods, buses will now operate every 15 minutes, improving service for commuters traveling along the route's primary alignment.

Route 25 Extended Northward

To maintain access to Foley Boulevard Park & Ride following the Route 850 changes, Metro Transit has extended select weekday Route 25 trips north via Springbrook Drive.

The extension provides an additional transit option for commuters who rely on the park-and-ride facility and helps preserve regional connectivity as the broader network evolves.

Reliability Improvements Across the Region

The June service package extends beyond the North Metro.

Metro Transit has recalibrated schedules on both the METRO B Line and METRO E Line to better reflect actual travel conditions observed throughout the system.

Transit officials say the adjustments are intended to improve on-time performance, reduce schedule drift, and maintain more consistent spacing between buses.

Route 27 has also received schedule modifications, with westbound departures moving 13 minutes earlier to better align with real-world operating conditions.

In Minneapolis, Route 14 has begun a stop-consolidation process in advance of Metro Transit's Better Bus Routes implementation scheduled for August 2026.

The Better Bus Routes initiative is expected to introduce additional service improvements and route modifications later this summer.

Simplifying the System

Several route designations have also been simplified.

Metro Transit removed alphabetical branch suffixes from several routes whose routing remains unchanged:

• Route 113 (formerly Route 113B)

• Route 114 (formerly Route 114A)

• Route 264 (formerly Route 264C)

• Route 578 (formerly Route 578B)

The changes are intended to make route identification easier for both regular riders and occasional users.

Meanwhile, Route 467 riders will encounter a new downtown Minneapolis terminal location. The route's endpoint has moved from 2nd Street South and 3rd Avenue to Gateway Ramp, one of downtown's primary transit facilities.

Reflecting a New Era of Transit Planning

The June service changes highlight a broader transformation occurring across public transportation systems throughout the United States.

Before 2020, transit planning in many metropolitan regions focused heavily on moving large numbers of commuters into central business districts during morning and evening rush hours. Since then, changing work patterns, population growth in suburban communities, and evolving travel behavior have prompted agencies to rethink how service is delivered.

Metro Transit's Network Now framework reflects that shift.

Rather than concentrating solely on traditional commuter service, the agency increasingly is investing in all-day mobility, suburban connections, healthcare access, educational travel, and local economic corridors.

For residents of Coon Rapids, Blaine, and Anoka, Saturday's changes represent one of the most visible examples of that evolving approach.

Whether the redesign succeeds will ultimately be measured by ridership, reliability, and how effectively the new network connects people to the places they need to go. But beginning this weekend, thousands of North Metro riders will be navigating a transit system that looks noticeably different than it did just one day earlier.

Need Assistance?

Metro Transit riders seeking assistance with route changes, schedules, transfers, or trip planning may contact:

Metro Transit Information Center

Phone: 612-373-3333

Text: 612-444-1161

Online Chat: metrotransit.org

Transit Information representatives are available Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Customer Relations representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In-person service centers remain available in both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul.

Sources: Metro Transit Quarterly Service Changes (June 2026); Metro Transit Network Now Framework; Metropolitan Council Transit Operations; Metro Transit Route Schedules and Service Change Bulletins.

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