The 10-mile line runs largely along I-94 in bus-only lanes with stops at designated stations.

The project is expected to open on March 22, 2025, and is planned to be extended further west to Downtown Minneapolis in 2027.

As a result of recent population growth, the Gateway Corridor today moves more than 150,000 vehicles per day.

In 2009, a commission was created to study and plan alternative transportation options in the corridor.

In looking at these four main areas, the study helped to address the issues of congestion, potential economic development/revitalization and environmental and social impacts.

Final decisions regarding the mode of transit and route will be determined by the Metropolitan Council and Ramsey and Washington County Regional Railroad Authorities.

These decisions will help move this from a planning effort into a real, tangible project.

[10] Money from the Counties Transit Improvement Board had been mostly spent on projects in the western metropolitan area which led Gold Line supporters to argue that more transit funding should be spent in the east metro including on projects like the Gold Line.

The rating allows the project to continue into the engineering phase of the FTA's New Starts program.

[13] With 3 years needed until service could start, developments worth $200-290 million were proposed along the line by April 2021.

[24] In April 2023, $238 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was secured.

The bridge carries general traffic but will also have dedicated bus lanes for the Gold Line.

[28][29][30] In October 2024, Metro Transit announced that it would extend the Gold Line west from St. Paul to Downtown Minneapolis in 2027.

[31] Existing BRT stations on 7th and 8th Street in downtown Minneapolis will be used and the route will end at Royalston Avenue/Farmers Market on the Green Line extension.