Metro Transit marks one year of Green Line rail service

Metro Transit officials from Minneapolis and St. Paul gathered Monday with community and business leaders to recognize the one-year anniversary of the agency's Green Line light-rail service.

The 11-mile line served a total of more than 11.1 million riders in its first year and carried a weekday average of 40,500 riders in May. Officials initially estimated the line would provide about 27,000 rides on an average weekday.

Additionally, there's been $3 billion in development completed, planned or underway along the Green Line corridor since construction began, Metro Transit officials said.

"The Green Line is about improved access to jobs,” said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb, adding that a recent study indicated that the line gave improved access to about 2,000 jobs. “It’s also about access to entertainment and this week we celebrate with all of our businesses up and down the Green Line."