7th-8th Street & Nicollet station

7th Street & Nicollet platform

The current 7th Street & Nicollet platform opened August 2015 aiming to increase capacity and implement bus rapid transit features at the existing stop.[3] In 2012, it was the single busiest bus stop in Minnesota, seeing 4,300 average weekday boardings.[4] On February 3, 2014 Metro Transit split some routes' stopping locations to an new stop south of Nicollet Mall to increase capacity. Routes 134, 144, 353, 355, 365, 375, 452, 755, 758, and 764 were moved there, with Routes 7, 14, and 19, predecessor to the C Line, having moved there a year before.[5] The station was constructed as part of the 7th Street Transit Advantage project at a cost of $330,000 and was paid for by the City of Minneapolis.[6]

8th Street & Nicollet platform was constructed in 2019 as part of the 8th Street Reconstruction Project. The station opened to all bus routes December 7, 2019 after roadway reconstruction was completed.

6th Street & Nicollet station platform

A C Line bus dropping off passengers at the temporary 6th Street & Nicollet station in 2019

From opening day on June 8 until December 6, 2019, southbound C Line buses stopped at a temporary platform on 6th Street nearside Nicollet Mall. At the time of opening, 8th Street was under construction between Hennepin Avenue and Chicago Avenue. The temporary stop lacked standard bus rapid transit elements such as real-time signage and off-board fare collection. On December 7, 2019 C Line buses were routed onto 8th Street and began serving the new station platform at Nicollet Mall.

The station is located at the intersection of Nicollet Mall, providing access to local bus connections, as well as several shops and dining. Kitty-corner to each platform is the IDS Center, the tallest building in Minnesota. Between both platforms is the former flagship Dayton's department store.

The station is a short walk from Nicollet Mall station at 5th Street for connections with METRO light rail trains.