Transit Routes Change September 10th

Beginning Saturday, Sept. 10, changes will be made to routes operated by Metro Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and Maple Grove Transit. Log on to metrotransit.org for full details.

Northstar, Hiawatha, Buses to Serve Vikings Games

MINNEAPOLIS – (August 26) The Northstar commuter rail line will provide service for all Vikings regular and pre-season games at Mall of America Field in the Metrodome this season. Special trains will be added on game days to supplement the regular Northstar schedule when needed.

There are more than 2,700 free Park & Ride spaces at the Northstar Line’s five suburban stations at Fridley, Coon Rapids – Riverdale, Anoka, Elk River and Big Lake. Fans can save with a Northstar Roundtrip Family Pass which allows two adults and up to three kids ages 6-17 between $11 and $20 depending on which station is used for boarding. Fans arriving at Target Field via Northstar can transfer —at no charge — to the Hiawatha light rail line or buses for the last part of their trip to Mall of America Field.

Northstar Link bus service from St. Cloud and Becker is timed to connect with Northstar trains at Big Lake station. At either the scheduled departure times, or one hour after the end of the game, fans will be able to board the train to Big Lake and easily transfer to the connecting Northstar Link bus to complete the return trip to Becker and St. Cloud.

Full schedules for every game and fare information are available at metrotransit.org/vikings.

About 13 percent of Vikings fans travel on the Hiawatha light-rail line – which runs from Bloomington directly to the Metrodome. This season, the line is again expected to be a popular choice.

A number of frequent regular service bus routes also stop nearby:

• From the north and south: 5, 7, 14, 19 and 22
• From the east: 3, 16, 50 and 94.
• From the west: 7 and 9

Trips are easy to plan using the online trip planner at metrotransit.org or by calling 612-373-3333.

Metro Transit is a service of the Metropolitan Council. Customers boarded Metro Transit buses and trains 78 million times in 2010.

Plan ahead for a busy Aug. 26 – 28 weekend Downtown

NEWS FROM: CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS

The weekend of Aug. 26-28 will be busy in downtown Minneapolis, as large events take place at Target Field, Target Center, the Metrodome, the Minneapolis Convention Center, and on Nicollet Mall. Combined with plays and shows going on at smaller venues, it will be an exciting weekend, but it’s important that people plan ahead and explore their transportation options. The City of Minneapolis, Metro Transit, the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Vikings, and many other partners are working together to mitigate traffic congestion as much as possible and to spread the word to people who are coming Downtown this weekend so they can plan ahead.

Events that are expected to draw large crowds this weekend include:

Friday, Aug. 26

Lynx vs. San Antonio Silver Stars – 7 p.m. at Target Center

Twins vs. Detroit Tigers – 7:10 p.m. at Target Field

Saturday, Aug. 27

Twins vs. Detroit Tigers – 3:10 p.m. at Target Field

Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys preseason – 7 p.m. at the H.H.H. Metrodome

Sunday, Aug. 28

Twins vs. Detroit Tigers – 1:10 P.M. at Target Field

American Legion Parade – 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Nicollet Mall

People coming Downtown should also be aware of a street construction project that will affect traffic this weekend, particularly if drivers are coming from the south on I-35W. There will be lane restrictions on Saturday on 5^th Avenue South, as work continues to resurface the street. At least two lanes will be open to traffic throughout the work. If the resurfacing work is delayed by the weather on Saturday, the work may be rescheduled for Sunday.

Road closures around the Metrodome Aug. 27

As with all Vikings games, there will also be street closures around the Metrodome as a security measure. The following streets will be closed starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 and are expected to reopen around 11 p.m.:

• Fifth Street, from 11^th Avenue to Park Avenue
• Chicago Avenue, from Third Street to Sixth Street
• Fourth Street, from Park Avenue to I-35W
• Norm McGrew Place, from Third Street to Fourth Street

Ride the MVTA Pronto Bus from Burnsville and Eagan to the State Fair

Have tickets to a Grandstand concert?  Entered something in a creative activities competition?  Love the carnival rides?  Can’t wait to see the butter sculptures or the livestock?  Feel the need to gorge yourself on fried foods-on-a-stick?  Take the worry-free way to the State Fair – ride the Pronto Bus from Burnsville and Eagan to the Minnesota State Fair Aug. 25 through Sept. 5.  Round trip bus fare remains just $5.

Weekday Schedule (except Labor Day)
On weekdays, State Fair Express buses will operate to/from the Burnsville High School and Burnsville Transit Station (BTS) and the State Fairgrounds.

Buses will leave first from the Burnsville High School, 600 E. Highway 13, then travel to the Burnsville Transit Station (northeast corner of Highway 13 and Nicollet Avenue) in Burnsville, then will go directly to the State Fairgrounds.  Buses will depart hourly from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Buses will leave the Fairgrounds to return to BTS and Burnsville High School, every 60 minutes from 12 noon to 12 midnight.  Restrooms are available at the Burnsville Transit Station but not at the Burnsville High School.

Weekend/Labor Day Schedule
Weekends and Labor Day buses will operate to/from the State Fair from the Burnsville and Eagan Transit Stations (ETS) (not from Burnsville High School).

Buses will leave BTS, as well as the Eagan Transit Station at Pilot Knob and Yankee Doodle Roads, every 30 minutes from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Buses will leave the Fairgrounds to return to BTS and ETS every 30 minutes from 12 noon to 12 midnight.

Round-trip fare is $5 cash for all riders age 5 and older; fares are free for children 4 and under.  The round-trip fare is collected in Burnsville or Eagan (initial boarding location), and no fare is collected on the return trip. For this reason, there are no one-way fares.  Stored Value Cards, 31-Day Passes, Go-To Cards, U-Passes, Metropasses and special discounts such as for disabled veterans are NOT valid on State Fair services.  Exact fare is required in the form of dollar bills and/or coins.

Advance purchase bus tickets are available through Aug. 24 from www.metrotransit.org.  Individual tickets can be purchased for $4 (value $5); a group of four tickets can be purchased for $15 (value $20).  These tickets can be used on the MVTA State Fair Express buses.

MVTA is the public transportation provider for residents and businesses of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount, and Savage.  Call (952) 882-7500 (choose option 3 after hours) for state fair and other transportation information or visit the MVTA web-site at www.mvta.com.

HOURCAR Wins Prize, Adds Cars, Heads to the U

Winning was just the beginning
The NEC’s HOURCAR car-sharing program took the top prize in the 2011 Mosaic Social Entrepreneurs Cup. Thanks to each of you who posted letters of support online. Now we advance to the Minnesota Cup, our state’s premier entrepreneurial competition. The HOURCAR team is honing its business plan for its pitch on September 8th. Stay tuned.

New cars galore
Downtown Saint Paul is emerging as an HOURCAR hot spot. Two new cars will arrive in September to serve downtown’s increasingly vibrant residential and business scenes and its wildly successful car-sharing community. Way to roll, Lowertown and Uppertown!

Mini HOURCAR to serve Gophers
No, not the little furry ones. HOURCAR is heading to the University of Minnesota with its new MINI Cooper, sponsored by Solhaus in Stadium Village. Now U of M students, faculty, and staff can enjoy great HOURCAR service near campus and near home. Tell your favorite Gophers about the cars in SE Como, Cedar-Riverside, Stadium Village, and St. Anthony Park.

Indeed, why should any college student have to worry about the expense and headaches of car ownership? The Scots, Pipers, Tommies, Auggies, and Arties (or whatever the Minneapolis College of Art and Design mascot turns out to be) all have their own campus HOURCARs. Welcome back, students!

Keep up with HOURCAR
Visit the HOURCAR website to learn more and join up, and like HOURCAR on Facebook for news on new student rates, cars, and other updates.

Metro Transit Makes Getting to the State Fair Fast, Easy, Fun

The Minnesota State Fair is fast approaching, and Metro Transit makes getting there fast, easy and part of the fun.

Metro Transit will operate special State Fair Express service and regular-route buses to the Great Minnesota Get-Together, which begins Thursday, Aug. 25, and runs through Labor Day (Sept. 5). Customers who buy their State Fair Express ride by Aug. 24 receive a discount.

Save on advance-purchase tickets for bus rides

Normally, the round-trip fare for a State Fair Express bus is $5. Through Aug. 24, fairgoers can purchase a State Fair Bus Bargain Ticket for just $4. Tickets are sold only through the online store at metrotransit.org and at Metro Transit retail stores in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Those traveling with family and friends can buy a group ticket. Fairgoers get four round-trip rides for the price of three – just $15 – and receive one pass valid for four people traveling together. Individual and Group Bus Bargain Tickets cannot be purchased after Aug. 24. (Customers should allow two days for delivery when buying tickets online.)

Non-stop express service

Metro Transit will operate State Fair Express service each day of the fair from 11 park-and-ride lots. Non-stop State Fair Express buses operate between 8 a.m. and midnight and speed past congestion on bus-only shoulders and bus-only roads near the fairgrounds to get customers there faster.

Maps, details and an Express lot finder are available at metrotransit.org/statefair.

Service is offered every 15 minutes from these six park-and-ride lots:

• Northtown Mall – Blaine
• Brookdale Square – Brooklyn Center
• I-394 & County Road 73 Park & Ride – Minnetonka
• Dunwoody College of Technology – downtown Minneapolis
• Southdale Shopping Center – Edina
• Bloomington – across 24th Avenue from Mall of America’s East parking ramp

Service is offered every 30 minutes from these four locations:

• Marcus Oakdale Cinema – south of I-694 on Hadley Avenue North (Oakdale Center is not available due to construction)
• Signal Hills Shopping Center – West St. Paul
• Cottage Grove Park & Ride lot – Highway 61 and West Point Douglas Road
• Maplewood Mall – southwest corner of Beam and Southlawn

On weekends and Labor Day only, service is available every half hour from Maple Grove Transit Station on I-94 and Hemlock Lane.

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and SouthWest Transit also will operate express service to the State Fair.

The walk-up, round-trip fare for express buses, which is payable in bills or coins when boarding at express sites, is $5 per person. Children age four and under ride free. Go-To Cards, Metropasses, SuperSavers, U-Passes, College Passes, Student Passes, coupons and transfers are not valid on State Fair Express service.

Regular-route service

Three regular-service routes serve the State Fairgrounds. Route 960 travels between downtown Minneapolis and the fairgrounds in about 15 minutes. Fairgoers can hop on Route 960 anywhere along Nicollet Mall. Buses operate to and from the fairgrounds roughly every 15 minutes daily.

Routes 3 and 84 also serve the State Fair. Route 3 travels between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul via Como Avenue on the south side of the fairgrounds; Route 84 travels between the Hiawatha Line’s 46th Street Station and Rosedale on Snelling Avenue, on the east side of the fairgrounds.

The one-way fare for regular-route buses during non-rush hours is $1.75 for adults and 75 cents for children, seniors and Medicare cardholders with proper identification. During rush hours, all customers pay $2.25, except certified Mobility customers who ride for 75 cents at any time when they present required ID. Go-To Cards, Metropasses, SuperSavers, U-Passes, College Passes, Students Passes, coupons and transfers are valid for regular-route buses.

Detailed State Fair bus service information is available at 612-373-3333, and at metrotransit.org/statefair.

MVTA State Fair Bus Information