Marq2 transit corridor

Marq2
Stop Group C on the Marq2 transit corridor.
Overview
Operator	Metro Transit Maple Grove Transit Minnesota Valley Transit Authority Plymouth Metrolink SouthWest Transit
Status	Open
Began service	December 14, 2009[1]
Route
Route type	Bus rapid transit
Locale	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Start	Washington Avenue
End	12th Street
Route map Legend Second Avenue Marquette Avenue Washington Avenue  A     B  3rd Street  C   D   E  4th Street  A   H   B   G  5th Street Blue Line Green Line at Nicollet Mall  C   F   D   E  6th Street  A   H   B   G  7th Street C Line to BCTC  C   F   D   E  8th Street C Line to Park  A   H   B   G  9th Street  C   F   D   E  10th Street  A   H   G  11th Street  C   F   E  12th Street   Marq2 busway  X   Stop group METRO line    Orange Line station all stops accessible This diagram: view talk edit ← {{{previous_line}}}  {{{system_nav}}}  {{{next_line}}} →

The Marq2 transit corridor is a north–south thoroughfare in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It consists of the parallel streets of Marquette and Second avenues in the downtown area. Each public streetway has two contraflow bus lanes with two lanes available for general-purpose traffic in the opposite direction. Vehicular transit flows south on Marquette Avenue and north on Second Avenue. The inner curb lane allows buses to stop for riders, while the second bus-only lane allows buses to pass each other along the corridor. Bus routes that operate on the corridor stop at every other block at an assigned gate with each route assigned a northbound and southbound gate. Gates are assigned letters A, B, C, or D on Marquette Avenue and E, F, G, and H on Second Avenue. Custom bus shelters are installed at each stop with heaters and real time transit information. The corridor primarily serves express buses operated by all five public transit agencies in the Twin Cities.^[2]

Transit has existed in the corridor since 1879 with the opening of steam railways which were eventually replaced by streetcars, and then buses. After both streets were converted to one-way traffic, a contraflow bus lane was installed in the 1970s. Eventually the corridor's capacity became overwhelmed with the amount of buses so that operating conditions and speeds were severely impacted. The city of Minneapolis proposed consolidating express bus traffic in the city in the corridor and secured funding to reconstruct the streets in 2007. The redesign added an additional bus lane, increased space for pedestrians, and improved waiting amenities for customers. Upon opening in 2009, capacity for buses in the corridor was tripled, which allowed most express bus service in downtown Minneapolis to be consolidated onto the two streets. Operating speeds increased in the corridor, and some trips took 10 fewer minutes to travel out of downtown. The Metro Orange Line began using the corridor in 2021 when it began operation.