urbanMSP

The next quarterly update will be interesting. I assume to see many express trips added back as workers are pulled back into the office next fall.

SW Transit has a number of initiatives underway for service expansion in their area:

• SW Prime expansion to Mystic Lake Casino, Methodist Hospital, and Park Nicollet Clinic.
• Park and Fly service between SW Station and the Airport. 20 stalls would be reserved for customers who could park for up to 14 days. This service would be part of the SW Prime paratransit operation.
• Twins service returning (with reservations required).
• State Fair service returning, and may require reservations.

Page 87 of the May 2021 meeting packet: https://swtransit.org/cms-files/swt-may ... -final.pdf

SW Prime has also recently expanded (March 15) to the 494 corridor, with rides to Best Buy HQ at $4, MOA at $6, and the airport at $8. Service was also expanded to Shakopee at $4/ ride (normal fare).

https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... -2021.aspx

Looks like Metro Transit is looking to start a MicroTransit pilot in North Minneapolis to connect people to certain C Line stations and Route 5 stops. Boundary includes Golden Valley/West Broadway to Interstate 394 for N/S and for E/W its Xerxes Ave N to Interstate 94.

https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... -2021.aspx

Looks like Metro Transit is looking to start a MicroTransit pilot in North Minneapolis to connect people to certain C Line stations and Route 5 stops. Boundary includes Golden Valley/West Broadway to Interstate 394 for N/S and for E/W its Xerxes Ave N to Interstate 94.

Nice to know with how much increased frequency is going underfunded that MetroTransit is willing to fund this money pit.

It's good that they are trialing this in an area with backup fixed route service. It will allow them to figure out what works and what doesn't to roll it out in the suburbs. MVTA and SW Transit microtransit implementations seem to be much better than a fixed route system, so there's probably some good opportunity to implement the same concept in the Metro Transit service area.

It's good that they are trialing this in an area with backup fixed route service. It will allow them to figure out what works and what doesn't to roll it out in the suburbs. MVTA and SW Transit microtransit implementations seem to be much better than a fixed route system, so there's probably some good opportunity to implement the same concept in the Metro Transit service area.

Plymouth Metrolink also has micro-transit. I've tried all three and while I don't have the perspective of a daily user who needs it to get to places, it seems a lot better than fixed-route service that runs every hour at most and might require walking over a mile.

I don't like the transit vans SouthWest Prime uses though. Even for an able-bodied person they're difficult getting in and out of. I much prefer the mini-buses.

Would it be correct to think of MicroTransit as a small version of Personal Rapid Transit? The two seem very similar to me.

It's basically a subsidized Uber Pool. It's more useful than buses where there isn't a logical pattern to origins and destinations and the demand is relatively low.

MVTA announced a new route for the summer connecting Mall of America, Valley Fair, Canterbury Park, and Mystic Lake Casino. It will operate hourly in both directions on Saturdays and Sundays.

https://www.mvta.com/news/new-4fun-bus- ... DahnxjxU-g

Seems like a good idea given how many buses and routes are sidelined for the time being. Hopefully it gets enough riders to become permanent.

Has there ever been transit service to Valley Fair? It always seemed like an obvious market to serve in the summer, especially on weekends when the bread-and-butter (pre-COVID) express routes weren't running.

If there was sufficient demand, one would hope Valley Fair would run their own free weekend shuttle from the MOA area (similar to casino shuttle buses). That seems more appropriate than a heavily subsidized public service. I'm not opposed to MVTA trying it out, but it's such a specific origin/destination pair, with obvious benefit to Valley Fair (more customers through the gates, though they'd obviously operate the shuttle at a loss while also losing parking revenue)

If there was sufficient demand, one would hope Valley Fair would run their own free weekend shuttle from the MOA area (similar to casino shuttle buses). That seems more appropriate than a heavily subsidized public service. I'm not opposed to MVTA trying it out, but it's such a specific origin/destination pair, with obvious benefit to Valley Fair (more customers through the gates, though they'd obviously operate the shuttle at a loss while also losing parking revenue)

How many Valley Fair workers could benefit from this service? Especially teens who can work there but can't drive.

If there was sufficient demand, one would hope Valley Fair would run their own free weekend shuttle from the MOA area (similar to casino shuttle buses). That seems more appropriate than a heavily subsidized public service. I'm not opposed to MVTA trying it out, but it's such a specific origin/destination pair, with obvious benefit to Valley Fair (more customers through the gates, though they'd obviously operate the shuttle at a loss while also losing parking revenue)

I've noticed a lot of other cities have theme park service, LA has an express route between Downtown and Disneyland, Pace has an express route from the Rosemont CTA to Six Flags, and York Region Ontario has an express route from the TTC to the Wonderland theme park. Seattle has routes that are dedicated to serving trailheads well outside the city as well.

It doesn't fit the traditional model of transit being focused on commuters, but it's less egregious than the build out of tens of thousands of park and ride spaces (which is functionally a parking shuttle for high-paid downtown workers) and helps car-free people go to places they otherwise wouldn't be able to.

Valleyfair was closed last year and no way am I going this year in the middle of a pandemic. But I've had season passes since 2008 and would go out there many times a season. I'm not saying transit is a good or a bad idea there, but I'd throw out the following observations and speculations:

I don't think anyone is going to want to find their way to the Mall then take a shuttle, as opposed to just driving there (or taking transit directly). Valleyfair does not attract a large out-of-the-region cliental like Six Flags Magic Mountain or Disney; people that would fly in to the airport and then take a shuttle.

From what I can tell, most of the visitors pack 3 or 4 teenagers in a car, and then only one of them has to drive and pay for parking. Maybe you don't have a car, but chances are one of your three friends that are going does. And if so, why would you take the bus instead of him or her driving you all? I'd also suspect there's a substantial overlap between "people well-off enough to go to Valleyfair" and "people that won't ride buses". And talking about rail transit for them is probably too far off for the discussion now.

Quite a few of the employees stay on site. That includes many from the area that don't have cars, might live in Hugo, or just want to stay in the dorms. There is a need for these on-site employees to get around the area- from what I gathered a couple of them scrounge up cars (my stepfather sold a car to a Valleyfair employee who wanted to use it and then sell it back at the end of the season when he went back abroad), and then the other people kind of share rides with them.

The parking lot is in terrible condition and needs $$$$, much more than just a mill and overlay as it sits on bad soil. Since the parking lot is mostly empty except during summer Saturdays and October Friday and Saturday Nights. Maybe they'd accept some money to share part of it as a park and ride for the other 95% of the year.

I took the 410 today just for fun and unfortunately but not surprisingly I was the only rider for the entire trip from MoA to Mystic Lake. The bus stop at Valley Fair is actually a small concrete pad they just built and it's located right by the Valley Park Drive & 101 intersection, and it's over a quarter mile to the front gates.

The 410 serves entertainment venues but it doesn't serve where people live and desire to go to those venues. Best they can hope for is a few people who take the Blue Line to the mall and then transfer to the 410. I drove and parked at 28th Avenue and walked over to the mall.

On paper the idea of this service looks good, but it was executed poorly.

I took the 410 today just for fun and unfortunately but not surprisingly I was the only rider for the entire trip from MoA to Mystic Lake. The bus stop at Valley Fair is actually a small concrete pad they just built and it's located right by the Valley Park Drive & 101 intersection, and it's over a quarter mile to the front gates.

The 410 serves entertainment venues but it doesn't serve where people live and desire to go to those venues. Best they can hope for is a few people who take the Blue Line to the mall and then transfer to the 410. I drove and parked at 28th Avenue and walked over to the mall.

On paper the idea of this service looks good, but it was executed poorly.

MVTA needs to hire new planners, cause they just keep doing half-arsed routes.


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Any idea when the Blue Line might go back to normal schedule? It's still running 15-minute headways in the morning, and doesn't increase frequency to 10-minute headways until around 10am, which it maintains through PM rush hour. Keeping 15-minute headways during the AM rush hour is a frustrating choice. Now that more people are returning to downtown offices, it would seem like they'd be back to normal frequencies during rush hours.

Any idea when the Blue Line might go back to normal schedule? It's still running 15-minute headways in the morning, and doesn't increase frequency to 10-minute headways until around 10am, which it maintains through PM rush hour. Keeping 15-minute headways during the AM rush hour is a frustrating choice. Now that more people are returning to downtown offices, it would seem like they'd be back to normal frequencies during rush hours.

It will be happening with the August Pick.


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MVTA and SouthWest Transit have a survey out regarding a systemwide study for changes between 2022 and 2026. Some proposed changes include local routes to connect with the Green Line.

https://form.jotform.com/21167394424015 ... xLW7W559Ao