Washington Avenue Transit/Pedestrian Mall

Washington Avenue Transit/Pedestrian Mall

This area in the heart of the University of Minnesota's East Bank spans Washington Avenue between Walnut and Church streets. Only buses, METRO Green Line trains, emergency vehicles and bicycles are permitted on this portion of Washington Avenue. Buses and trains operate jointly on light-rail tracks at restricted speeds.

• Bicycles and emergency vehicles will share outside traffic lanes (during rail disruptions, buses will also use these outside lanes).

• Bus stops in both directions are located at Coffman Union and Oak Street; buses do not stop at the METRO Green Line East Bank Station.

• Washington Avenue will remain closed to general traffic between Pleasant and Walnut streets.

Be safe. Look both ways! Trains can come on any track, at any time, from either direction.Members of the University community, particularly those who have never experienced bus traffic on Washington Avenue, are encouraged to learn about transit safety – including where to cross streets safely. A safety guide for the Washington Avenue Transit/Pedestrian Mall is available in PDF form here. 

> Safety along the Washington Avenue Transit/Pedestrian Mall (PDF)

> Rider's Almanac: When the rubber hits the tracks

> Bus safety

> Light-rail safety

 

 


The short video below showcases bicycle safety, including the six new bike boxes installed for making left turns from bike lanes along the mall: