Editing Northstar Line (section)

===Corridor buses===
During development of the rail line, MnDOT initiated an interim [[commuter bus]], '''Northstar Commuter Coach''', in response to worsening highway congestion and lack of transit alternatives in the corridor. The service stopped at future [[Elk River station|Elk River]] and Riverdale station sites, and terminated in downtown Minneapolis at Ramp B/5th Street Transit Center adjacent to the future Target Field Station. Inaugurated October 1, 2001, the route operated eight round-trips during weekdays and averaged 225 daily riders in its first year of service.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Larson |first1=Susan M.A. |title=Northstar commuter bus exceeding expectations |url=http://www.erstarnews.com/2002/November/5bus.html |work=Elk River Star News & Shopper |date=November 5, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060109171231/http://www.erstarnews.com/2002/November/5bus.html |archive-date=January 9, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MN/DOT to Launch First Commuter Coach Bus Service in Northstar Corridor |url=http://www.commutercoach.org/09_17_01.shtml |website=commutercoach.org |publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511163011/http://www.commutercoach.org/09_17_01.shtml |archive-date=May 11, 2008 |date=September 17, 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Operations were transferred to NCDA in 2003 and the route was discontinued with the opening of the commuter rail line in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northstar Corridor Development Authority to Take Over Operations of NorthStar Commuter Coach |url=http://www.commutercoach.org/20030716.shtml |website=commutercoach.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515213300/http://www.commutercoach.org/20030716.shtml |archive-date=May 15, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rider Alert |url=http://www.commutercoach.org/rideralert.shtml |website=commutercoach.org |publisher=Northstar Commuter Coach |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202041947/http://www.commutercoach.org:80/rideralert.shtml |archive-date=December 2, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 22, 2007, an additional commuter bus, '''Ramsey Star Express''', began operating in the corridor. The route, sponsored by the [[Ramsey, Minnesota|City of Ramsey]] and operated by Metro Transit, provided four round-trips on weekdays between [[Ramsey station (Metro Transit)|Ramsey station]] and Ramp B/5th Street Transit Center in downtown Minneapolis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Route 856 Ramsey Star Express Timetable |url=http://www.ci.ramsey.mn.us/Documents/Front%20page/Star%20Express2.pdf |publisher=City of Ramsey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205051550/http://www.ci.ramsey.mn.us/Documents/Front%20page/Star%20Express2.pdf |archive-date=February 5, 2009 |date=March 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The route saw an average of 115 daily riders.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sakry |first1=Tammy |title=Ramsey to expand parking ramp, receives good news on rail station |url=http://abcnewspapers.com/2011/08/15/ramsey-to-expand-parking-ramp-receives-good-news-on-rail-station/ |work=ABC Newspapers |date=August 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706143506/http://abcnewspapers.com/2011/08/15/ramsey-to-expand-parking-ramp-receives-good-news-on-rail-station/ |archive-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> A rail station was previously considered in Ramsey but was eliminated between the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements.<ref name="FTA ROD">{{cite web |title=Record of Decision: Northstar Corridor Rail Project |url=https://www.dot.state.mn.us/passengerrail/reports/northstar-rod.pdf |website=dot.mn.state.us |publisher=Federal Transit Administration |access-date=17 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714072554/https://www.dot.state.mn.us/passengerrail/reports/northstar-rod.pdf |archive-date=July 14, 2010}}</ref> However, in an effort to bolster Northstar ridership, an [[infill station]] at the same site was completed in 2012 and bus service was discontinued, saving the city $500,000 annually.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Levy |first1=Paul |title=Cost of Ramsey Northstar station: $130,000 per new rider |url=https://www.startribune.com/cost-of-ramsey-northstar-station-130-000-per-new-rider/178027921 |access-date=17 March 2025 |work=Star Tribune |date=9 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212193058/https://www.startribune.com/cost-of-ramsey-northstar-station-130-000-per-new-rider/178027921/ |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

Metro Transit route restructuring in late 2000 resulted in the creation of express bus Routes 850, 851, and 852 to downtown Minneapolis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northeast metro service improvements begin June 9 |url=http://www.metrocouncil.org/transit/news/Stories/ne_routechanges.htm |website=metrocouncil.org |publisher=Metro Transit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010812195529/http://www.metrocouncil.org/transit/news/Stories/ne_routechanges.htm |date=12 August 2001|archive-date=2001-08-12 }}</ref> Route 851 served the Riverdale station site and the vicinity of the future [[Anoka station]]. Routes 850 and 852 primarily serve the Foley Boulevard station, providing local service north and connecting to two Northstar stations. Route 851 was discontinued after the opening of rail service and because no station has been built at the existing Foley Boulevard park and ride Routes 850 and 852 remain in operation.<ref name="SRF 2023 Appx. A" />