Metro Transit (Minnesota)
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. Although Metro Transit is one of the smallest transit systems for a large metropolitan area in the United States, it has previously been ranked as one of the best. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 38,794,700, or about 138,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.
| Metro Transit | |
|---|---|
| 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
|
| Number of stations | 37 light rail 99 bus rapid transit 7 commuter rail |
| Daily ridership | 138,800 (weekdays, Q3 2023) |
| Annual ridership | 38,794,700 (2022) |
| 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) September 18, 1970 (bus operations) June 26, 2004 (light rail) November 16, 2009 (commuter rail) June 11, 2016 (bus rapid transit) |
| Number of vehicles | 916 buses
115 rail vehicles
|
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. 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.
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. 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. The single-day ridership record is 369,626, set on September 1, 2016.
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.