Metro Transit provided nearly 532,000 rides to 2014 State Fair; a 15 percent increase in ridership from 2013
ST. PAUL, MN - Traveling to the Minnesota State Fair on transit is as fun and easy as taking a trip down the Giant Slide at the Midway, as Lt. Governor Tina Smith demonstrated Sunday. Boarding a State Fair Express Bus near dowtown Minneapolis, Lt. Governor Smith avoided parking headaches and beat traffic on the way to the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
Joined by Metropolitan Council Chair Adam Duininck and Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb, the trip to the fairgrounds took just 20 minutes. The trip was shortened by using the bus-only University of Minnesota Transitway, and the new Transit Hub immediately adjacent to the fairgrounds' west entrance.
"Transit is often more convenient and affordable than driving, and that's especially true when it comes to large events like the State Fair," said Lt. Governor Smith. "I encourage all fairgoers to take transit to the fairgrounds so they can focus on enjoying all that Minnesota has to offer instead of battling traffic."
Metro Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and SouthWest Transit provide express bus service to the fairgrounds from 21 Park and Ride locations across the Twin Cities, with trips running every 15 to 30 minutes from 8 a.m. to midnight throughout the fair. Select Park and Rides are open only on weekends and Labor Day.
"The State Fair is a place where you can find the best of everything Minnesota has to offer," said Chair Duininck. "Metro Transit is showing us how cars, buses, trains and bikes all working together as part of one system to give people choices for getting places on time."
In addition to express buses, Route 960 provides service from downtown Minneapolis to the Transit Hub. Fairgoers can also reach the fairgrounds on Route 3 and Route 84, which connects with the METRO Green Line at University and Snelling avenues. There will be connecting Express Bus service at Fridley Station for Northstar customers each weekend of the fair.
With record-setting attendance in 2014, Metro Transit provided nearly 532,000 rides to last year's State Fair. That was a 15 percent increase in ridership from 2013.
"Every year, we look forward to being a part of the State Fair experience for hundreds of thousands of Minnesota residents and visitors," Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb said.
"We view these 12 days not only as an opportunity to provide stress-free transportation to the fairgrounds, but as a chance to show how convenient transit can be year-round."
