| Metro Transit | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Owner | Metropolitan Council |
| Locale | Minneapolis – Saint Paul |
| Transit type | Transit bus Bus rapid transit Light rail Commuter rail Paratransit |
| Number of lines | 125 routes[1]
|
| Number of stations | 37 light rail 99 bus rapid transit 7 commuter rail |
| Daily ridership | 142,700 (weekdays, Q1 2024)[2] |
| Annual ridership | 44,977,200 (2023)[3] |
| Chief executive | Lesley Kandaras |
| Headquarters | Fred T. Heywood Office Building and Garage 560 North Sixth Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States |
| Website | metrotransit.org |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | May 20, 1967 (established)[4] September 18, 1970 (bus operations)[5] June 26, 2004 (light rail) November 16, 2009 (commuter rail) June 11, 2016 (bus rapid transit) |
| Number of vehicles | 916 buses[1]
115 rail vehicles
|
Metro Transit is the primary public transportation operator in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest operator in the state. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 44,977,200, or about 142,700 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.
The system is a division of the Metropolitan Council, the region's metropolitan planning organization (MPO), carrying 90% to 95% of the transit riders in the region on a combined network of regular-route buses, light rail and commuter rail.[6] The remainder of Twin Cities transit ridership is generally split among suburban "opt-out" carriers operating out of cities that have chosen not to participate in the Metro Transit network. The biggest opt-out providers are Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), Maple Grove Transit and Southwest Transit (SW Transit). The University of Minnesota also operates a campus shuttle system that coordinates routes with Metro Transit services. It is considered to be one of the fastest growing mass transit networks in the US.
In 2017, buses carried about 68% of the system's passengers. Just above 16% of ridership was concentrated on Metro Transit's busiest route, the Green Line light rail. The region's other light rail line, the Blue Line, fell close behind, carrying 13% of Metro Transit passengers. Nearly 2% rode the A Line arterial rapid bus line. The remaining approximately 1% rode the Northstar Commuter Rail service.[7] In 2015, Metro Transit saw its highest yearly ridership ever, with a total of 85.8 million trips, 62.1 million (72%) of which were on buses. The remaining 23.7 million (28%) of passengers traveled on the region's rail lines, including the then new Green Line.[8] The single-day ridership record is 369,626, set on September 1, 2016.[9]
Metro Transit drivers and vehicle maintenance personnel are organized through the Amalgamated Transit Union. The agency also contracts with private providers such as First Transit to offer paratransit services which operate under the Metro Mobility brand.
- ^ a b "Metro Transit Facts". Metro Transit. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Dornfeld, Steven (Fall 2019). "1969 Bus Strike" (PDF). Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ "The OughtaBiography: 1970–1980" (PDF). Metropolitan Transit Commission. September 1980. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ "Metro Transit 2017 Facts". Metro Transit. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "Rail lines set records as Metro Transit ridership tops 81.9 million in 2017 – Metro Transit". www.metrotransit.org. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
- ^ "2015 Metro Transit Facts" (PDF). Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- ^ Harlow, Tim (September 9, 2016). "Vikings, Twins, traffic fears help Metro Transit shatter single-day ridership record". Star Tribune.