METRO TRANSIT
By JOHN CHARLES WILSON
Starting with a prayer, or a thought, for our transit-riding friends in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Portland, who are going to lose vast amounts of service due to Covid-19 special funding ending.
In the Twin Cities, we are very fortunate that the Minnesota Legislature granted Metro Transit a dedicated tax sufficient to avoid such a fate, and even to make serious improvements. A set of these improvements went into effect 16 August 2025. None of them directly affect the Phillips Community, but they may be useful to alley readers who travel throughout the Metro area.
One improvement a few months ago in the Phillips Community was revival of Route 27, which was suspended during the pandemic. The current version of Route 27 provides closer access to East and West Lake Street businesses from the residential areas along East 26th and 28th Streets. Here’s a special shoutout to Will Netzley, who took the time to write a Letter to the Editor of the alley recognizing this Transit Column and explaining his appreciation for the return of Route 27. He and I urge you to get the word out about Route 27 and usefulness so it doesn’t get cut again. His mention of its value to residents who can’t easily walk to Lake Street is duly noted.
I admit not thinking of Route 27 in those terms. I thought it would have been more useful as a speedy bypass of Lake Street altogether; a loop of Hennepin, 26th, Hiawatha, and 28th primarily aimed at quick access to north/south Routes such as the 4, 5, 6, 14, 17, and 18. I am glad to see the routing Metro Transit picked is working better for some people.
Local access to areas between the stops on Bus Rapid Transit lines is becoming an issue for mobility challenged people. Not having Route 21 is hard on people who don’t walk well and aren’t near a B Line stop. Maybe Metro Transit will consider a Metro Micro pilot along BRT and LRT corridors where this has become an issue. That would be good!
