The line operates primarily along Interstate 35W from downtown Minneapolis through Richfield and Bloomington before terminating in Burnsville, Minnesota.

The Marq2 transit corridor serves 80 percent of express bus trips to downtown Minneapolis from regional park and ride facilities.

[9] From downtown, buses connect directly to the I-35W MnPASS lanes on a ramp constructed for only transit vehicles that will serve 700 weekday bus trips.

The route travels off the freeway to serve stations and a park and ride at Knox Ave and 76th St near the Best Buy Richfield headquarters.

The transit-only Knox Avenue transitway travels underneath I-494 to the American Blvd station located near Southtown Center and the Penn-American district in Bloomington.

The route re-enters I-35W for a short distance before again exiting at 98th St to serve the South Bloomington Transit Center and park and ride.

[11] The I-35W corridor has a long history of transit, being the first freeway in the Twin Cities to have express bus service, starting in 1968.

Project development approval for engineering and environmental work was granted by the FTA in 2014, and a decision on an additional $64 million in funding was expected by 2016.

[25] There were concerns about the final routing in Burnsville and if traveling off I-35W to serve the Heart of the City would add too much time for riders, with comparisons made to the Metro Red Line and the Cedar Grove Transit Station.

Additional travel time would have been especially an issue if the route was extended further to the Kenrick Avenue Park and Ride station in Lakeville in the future.

[26] Ultimately two stations in Burnsville served in a loop were approved with the design allaying Dakota County commissioner concerns.

[27] After Dakota County withdrew from CTIB causing its dissolution and the failure to secure funding from the state during the 2016 legislative session, concerns about the financial viability of the line were questioned.

[29][30] The line drew bipartisan support from cities and elected officials, partially due to lower costs compared to light rail projects like the Southwest LRT.

While serving stations at 76th St and American Blvd the line travels on a transit-only tunnel under I-494 which allows for a direct path between two activity centers in Richfield and Bloomington.

[17] Due to a bus driver shortage, the Orange Line opened with 15-minute headways all day during weekdays with less frequent service during early mornings and evenings.

[40][41] Minnesota Valley Transit Authority added a route to serve the Orange Line in Burnsville at the Heart of the City station.

While the stations do not have completely level boarding, the higher platforms reduces the gap compared to typical bus stops.