St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission
The St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission, branded as Metro Bus, is the primary provider of mass transportation in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Service is provided daily using a fleet of 37 full-sized buses. The agency was formed in 1969 after the private St. Cloud Bus Lines began to cut routes and increase fares, leading the Minnesota State Legislature to establish a Transit Authority to make up for perceived inadequate service.
The transit center in downtown St. Cloud serves both Metro Bus lines and Jefferson Lines buses. | |
| Founded | 1969 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 665 Franklin Avenue NE |
| Locale | St. Cloud, Minnesota |
| Service area | Benton County, Sherburne County, and Stearns County, Minnesota |
| Service type | bus service, paratransit |
| Routes | 19 |
| Hubs | 2 |
| Fleet | 37 |
| Daily ridership | 2,700 (weekdays, Q3 2023) |
| Annual ridership | 738,300 (2022) |
| Website | http://www.ridemetrobus.com/ |
Nineteen total routes are available in the system, providing access to the community via nearly 700 bus stops. Thirteen city routes are provided, plus the Northstar Link, which connects commuters to the Northstar Line train to Minneapolis. Additionally, five routes are primarily intended for St. Cloud State University (SCSU) students. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 738,300, or about 2,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.
Metro Bus is one of the only public transit agencies in the nation to have transit signal priority at all traffic lights. Since 2003, a universal transit pass has been part of SCSU fees, which has greatly increased ridership. A downtown transit center serves as a transfer point for many lines, and also serves Jefferson Lines intercity buses and Northstar Link service.