Central Avenue Line

The Central Avenue Line is a proposed streetcar corridor in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The line would run along Central Avenue NE (Minnesota State Highway 65) from Washington Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis to the Columbia Heights Transit Center in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. The line would cross the Mississippi River via the Third Avenue Bridge. There is an at-grade railroad crossing at 36th Avenue NE that would have to be altered to ensure steady traffic flow for the streetcars. Other than the railroad crossing, there are no major construction or engineering issues along the corridor.

The total length of the line would be convert|9.6|mi. The cost of "track" for the line would be approximately $100,000,000. The "total" cost of the line would also include the cost of a maintenance facility and streetcars, so that cost would be significantly higher than $100,000,000. It would be closer to $130,000,000.

Other proposed streetcar lines that the Central Avenue Line would intersect:

* Broadway/Washington Avenue Line (Southern Terminus)
* Hennepin Avenue Line (University of Minnesota, East Bank)
* University/4th Street Line (University of Minnesota, East Bank)

Ridership estimates for the line are around 5,500 to 7,000 weekday riders.