Downtown Hopkins station

Downtown Hopkins station is under construction light rail station in Hopkins, Minnesota on the Southwest LRT extension of the Green Line. The station, one of three located in Hopkins, is located just adjacent to Excelsior Blvd or Hennepin County Road 3.^[1] Downtown Hopkins is about a five-minute walk away or .25 miles (0.40 km).^[2]

Downtown Hopkins
Metro light rail station
An under construction Downtown Hopkins station in 2021.
General information
Location	Minnetonka, MN
Coordinates	44.921352°N 93.408754°W / 44.921352; -93.408754
Owned by	Metro Transit
Line(s)	Southwest LRT  (2027)
Tracks	2
Construction
Parking	Yes
Accessible	Yes
History
Opening	2027
Services
Preceding station Metro Following station Future service Shady Oak toward SouthWest Station Southwest LRT Blake Road toward Target Field

The station will include a public plaza, connections to Cedar Lake Trail, and an adjacent bus stop.^[3] The city of Hopkins plans to encourage transit supportive development nearby including 4-5 story residential buildings.^[2][4] The city of Hopkins, SuperValu, and a Honda dealership are major employers nearby.^[5] Although opening of the project was years away, the light rail line helped attract development including a $50 million apartment building close the Downtown Hopkins station.^[6]

The American Planning Association named The Artery, a street connecting the station to downtown Hopkins as a "Great Street" in 2019.^[7][8] The Artery covers a two block portion of Eighth Avenue. A trial in 2015 added art and a two-way bike lane with the final design opening in 2018.^[9][10][11] Funding for the $5.5 million project was provided by Hennepin County, Three Rivers Park District, and the Metropolitan Council via a transit-oriented development grant.^[12][13]

The Metropolitan Council helped support The Artery project with grants. It also helped fund a nearby apartment building that will have a park-and-ride for riders.^[14][15]

References

1. "Station Area Planning | Hopkins, MN". www.hopkinsmn.com. City of Hopkins. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
2. "Southwest Transitway Station Area Planning - Downtown Hopkins". Southwest Community Works. December 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
3. "Downtown Hopkins Station". Metropolitan Council. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
4. "Downtown Hopkins Station - Transitional Station Area Action Plan" (PDF). Southwest LRT Community Works. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
5. "Downtown Hopkins Station". Southwest LRT Community Works. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
6. Johnson, Brian (15 February 2018). "Future Southwest station areas draw $1B in development | Finance & Commerce". Finance & Commerce. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
7. Desmond, Declan (12 October 2019). "Hopkins Artery designated one of America's 'Great Streets'". Bring Me The News. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
8. "The Artery | Hopkins, MN". www.hopkinsmn.com. City of Hopkins. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
9. Reinan, John. "Hopkins giving a one-day peek into the future with "living street" event". Star Tribune. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
10. Owings, Cali (13 July 2015). "Experiment brings Hopkins' Artery concept to life | Finance & Commerce". Finance & Commerce. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
11. "Artery Hopkins: Hopkins, Minnesota". American Planning Association. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
12. "Transit Oriented Development Project Profile - The ARTery". Metropolitan Council. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
13. "Transit Oriented Development Guide - Hopkins Artery". Metropolitan Council. December 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
14. Roper, Eric (5 May 2018). "Hopkins prepares to unveil art-inspired route for walkers, bikes". AP News. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
15. Busche, Kelly (June 20, 2022). "Work anticipated to start in fall on Hopkins redevelopment next to future light rail station". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 24 May 2024.