Originally published in the Park Bugle, September 2026.
When more than 50 neighbors gathered this spring to talk with Metro Transit about the proposed METRO H Line, they came with plenty of questions – and some very specific concerns.
This September, neighbors will get to see what happened next.
Metro Transit is returning to St. Anthony Park as planning continues for the H Line, a new Bus Rapid Transit line that will travel along Como Avenue through the neighborhood. The next stage of the process includes an updated Recommended Corridor Plan, giving communities along the route an opportunity to see how proposed station locations and other elements have evolved following the first round of public feedback.
For St. Anthony Park, that feedback was significant.
At SAPCC’s spring Transportation Committee meeting, more than 50 residents, business owners, and community members joined Metro Transit, Saint Paul Public Works, and other public partners for a conversation about the Draft Corridor Plan.
One of the biggest areas of discussion was the proposed station near Doswell Avenue in the North St. Anthony Park business district. Neighbors and nearby businesses raised concerns about the potential loss of mature trees and parking, impacts on storefronts and outdoor seating, and whether another station location could better serve riders while reducing impacts on the surrounding business district.
There were broader transportation questions, too.
The H Line is planned to provide faster and more reliable service through the Como and Maryland Avenue corridor, which is currently served primarily by routes 3 and 80. Metro Transit plans for H Line buses to operate about every 10 minutes for most of the day, with upgraded stations generally spaced one-third to one-half mile apart.
But the proposed changes also raised concerns about what happens to existing transit connections. Many neighbors emphasized the importance of maintaining convenient access between North St. Anthony Park and downtown Saint Paul, particularly for students, workers, seniors, and others who currently rely on Route 3.
Neighbors also raised questions about winter accessibility, station spacing, bicycle infrastructure along Como Avenue, and how new transit stations will fit into the neighborhood around them.
Following the meeting, SAPCC submitted formal comments to Metro Transit reflecting what the Council heard.
Among its recommendations, SAPCC asked Metro Transit to consider moving the proposed North St. Anthony Park station from Doswell Avenue to Carter Avenue. SAPCC also encouraged consideration of an additional station near Buford Avenue to serve future redevelopment around Luther Seminary, continued coordination with potential bicycle improvements along Como Avenue, and extending proposed Route 66 service farther west to help maintain strong neighborhood transit connections.
Now comes an opportunity to see how those conversations helped shape the next version of the plan.
Metro Transit will be at SAPCC’s Hampden Park Ice Cream Social on Saturday, September 12, giving neighbors an informal opportunity to stop by, ask questions, and learn about the latest H Line plans.
Then, on Tuesday, September 29, Metro Transit will return to SAPCC’s Transportation Committee for a more detailed presentation. Neighbors will be able to hear directly from the project team, see how the plan has developed since the spring, and continue sharing feedback before the Corridor Plan is finalized.
“We had a great turnout when Metro Transit came to us this spring, and people came prepared with thoughtful questions and ideas,” said Bobby McPherson, SAPCC Associate Director. “Now we get to continue that conversation, see how the plans have developed, and make sure neighbors stay involved as the project moves forward.”
The H Line remains in its planning phase, with engineering expected to continue through 2027 and construction currently anticipated in 2028 and 2029.
For a transit line that could serve St. Anthony Park for decades, details like station locations, pedestrian access, neighborhood connections, and surrounding infrastructure matter.
Neighbors showed up and shared their ideas this spring. This September, we hope they’ll come back and see what comes next.
Metro Transit at the SAPCC Ice Cream Social
Saturday, September 12 | 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Hampden Park | South St. Anthony Park
SAPCC Transportation Committee – H Line Presentation
Tuesday, September 29 | 7:00 p.m.
Meeting information available at sapcc.org/
More information about the METRO H Line is available at metrotransit.org/h-line-project.