Minnesota Valley Transit Authority

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Minnesota Valley Transit Authority
File:MVTA logo.png
Founded 1990
Headquarters Burnsville, Minnesota
Locale Burnsville, Minnesota
Eagan, Minnesota
Apple Valley, Minnesota
Savage, Minnesota
Rosemount, Minnesota
Lakeville, Minnesota[lower-alpha 1]
Shakopee, Minnesota
Prior Lake, Minnesota
Service type Bus
Routes 30
Fleet 146
Daily ridership 9,500 (Q3 2012)[1]
Operator Schmitty and Sons[2]
Executive Director Beverley Miller
Website http://www.mvta.com

The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) is a public transportation agency that provides fixed-route and demand-responsive bus services to several communities in the southern portion of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The service area currently includes the cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Lakeville and Rosemount in Dakota County; and the cities of Savage, Shakopee[3] and Prior Lake[3] in Scott County. MVTA provides service from these areas to key destinations in the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as the Mall of America in Bloomington. The agency's name refers to the river valley along the Minnesota River.

Governance and structure

MVTA was created in 1990 through a joint powers agreement between the member municipalities and counties. The agreement was executed under a 1984 Minnesota statute that allowed suburban communities in the metropolitan area to create their own transit agencies independent of Metro Transit, the region's primary public transit provider. MVTA was one of several suburban transit agencies (also known as "opt-outs") that were formed as a result.

MVTA is governed by an eight-member board, each member representing the governing body of a member jurisdiction, plus one at-large member and several ex officio members.

In 2002, the City of Prior Lake withdrew membership from the MVTA.

In 2013, the MVTA starts providing service to Lakeville, even though it is not apart of the company's service party.

In September 2014, the City of Prior Lake re-joined the MVTA and the City of Shakopee had its membership administered.[3]

Service

MVTA's service is designed primarily to transport passengers from the residential suburbs within its service area to job and activity centers in the Minneapolis and St. Paul. While the majority of the agency's ridership is concentrated during peak periods of travel (rush hour), MVTA service operates seven days per week and up to 18 hours per day on some routes.

METRO Red Line

The METRO Red Line is a bus rapid transit line running along Cedar Avenue (State Highway 77/County Road 23) from the Mall of America to Apple Valley Transit Station. Due to extreme traffic congestion between Highway 62/Mall of America & County Road 42, enhanced public transit was needed. The METRO Red Line was chosen for the transitway as an alternative for regular driver's who want a faster way across the Cedar Avenue Bridge. Additions for the new service include: The addition of many new stations and park & ride lots, and changes to existing bus routes & the addition of new local and express bus service. MVTA began service on the METRO Red Line on June 22, 2013.

METRO Orange Line

In January 2005, MNDOT released their plans to improve transit service on the corridor in I-35W. They chose BRT as the best option. Changes will include: expansion of Metro Transit Route 535's service from just weekdays to everyday service and coversion into METRO Orange Line BRT with a route extension to Kenrick Avenue P&R. HOV lanes have been extended north to 42nd Street, with a freeway median station at 46th Street. Future MNDOT and Metro Transit plans show a new freeway station located on the American Blvd overpass, HOV lane extensions to Downtown Minneapolis and relocating the Lake St. tation to the median of the freeway. Metro Transit will be the primary operator of the line (with the MVTA being a project partner). Construction of stations is expected to start in 2017, with the line anticipated to open in 2019.

Robert Street Transitway

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In 2007, Dakota County completed a study on the Robert Street Corridor. The modes of transit considered are Light Rail Transit, Streetcar and Bus Rapid Transit. The MVTA communities of Eagan and Rosemount comprise the south end of the corridor.

BlueXpress

BlueXpress logo, from 2007 until MVTA merger in 2015
Buses used by BlueXpress until its repaint in 2015

BlueXpress was a public transit service operated by the cities of Prior Lake and Shakopee. It consisted of five bus routes, 490, 491, 492, 496 and 498. In September 2014, the cities of Shakopee and Prior Lake reached a deal with the MVTA to have their services merged. As of January 1, 2015, all former BlueXpress services are now operated by the MVTA.

Bus routes

Routes last effective: August 2015
Next effective changes: December 2015

Notes: Routes 460, 464, 465, 470, 472, 476, 477, 478, 479, 491 and 492 make stops at the I-35W Lake Street Station. Route 436 offers service from the 46th Street METRO Blue Line Station to Ecolab, Boulder Lakes and Thomson Reuters in Eagan. Route 465 offers service from Burnsville to South Bloomington Transit Center and the University of Minnesota. Route 475 offers direct service to both the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Zoo. Route 489 offers service from Union Depot in Downtown St. Paul to Ecolab, Boulder Lakes and Thomson Reuters in Eagan. Route 491 offers service from Cedar Grove/Eagan to Southbridge Crossings in Shakopee. Route 490 offers service from Marschall Road Transit Station/Shakopee to the University of Minnesota.

Route 420

(Flex Route - Apple Valley to/from Rosemount)

  • Apple Valley Transit Station
  • Galaxie Library
  • 147th Street
  • Pilot Knob Road
  • Embry Path
  • County Road 42
  • Rosemount Crossing
  • Rosemount Transit Station
  • Rosemount Community Center

Route 421

(Flex Route - Burnsville/Savage Circular)

  • Burnsville Transit Station
  • Lynn Court
  • Hamlition Hotel
  • Eagle Ridge Junior High School
  • Savage City Hall
  • Savage Library
  • Savage Park & Ride

Route 426

(Shuttle Route - Burnsville)

  • Burnsville Transit Station
  • Nicollet Avenue
  • Portland Avenue
  • Evergreen Avenue
  • County Road 11
  • County Road 42
  • Southcross Road

Route 436

(Local/Limited Stop Reverse Commute - Eagan to/from Minneapolis)

Route 437

(Reverse Commute - Eagan to/from Cedar Grove)

Route 438

(Local Route - Eagan)

  • Cedar Grove Transit Station
  • Twin Cites Premium Outlets - Eagan/Cedar Grove Mall[4]
  • Cliff Lake
  • Rahn Road
  • Blackhawk P&R
  • Cliff Square
  • Thomas Lake Road

Route 440

(Local Route - Apple Valley to/from Minneapolis)

Route 442

(Local Route - Apple Valley to/from Burnsville)

Route 444

(Local Bus Stop Route - Savage & Burnsville to/from Bloomington)

Route 445

(Local Bus Stop Route - Eagan to/from Cedar Grove)

Route 446

(Local Route - Eagan to/from Minneapolis)

Route 460

(Express Route - Burnsville to/from Downtown Minneapolis)

Route 464

(Express Bus Stop Route - Savage to/from Downtown Minneapolis)

  • Minneapolis/Gateway Ramp
  • I-35W Lake Street Freeway Station
  • Heart of the City Park & Ride
  • Burnsville Parkway
  • County Road 42
  • Savage Park & Ride
  • Downtown Savage

Route 465

(Express/Limited Stop Route - Burnsville to/from University of Minnesota)

Route 470

(Express Route - Eagan to/from Downtown Minneapolis)

  • Minneapolis/Gateway Ramp
  • Downtown Minneapolis
  • I-35W Lake Street Freeway Station
  • Argosy University
  • Unisys
  • Donald Ave
  • Coachman Oaks
  • Eagan Transit Station
  • Blackhawk Park & Ride

Route 472

(Express Route - Eagan to/from Downtown Minneapolis)

  • Minneapolis/Gateway Ramp
  • Downtown Minneapolis
  • I-35W Lake Street Freeway Station
  • Cliff Square
  • Blackhawk Park & Ride
  • Thomas Lake Area
  • Cedar Grove Transit Station

Route 475

(Express Route - Apple Valley to/from University of Minnesota)

Route 476

(Express Route - Rosemount to/from Downtown Minneapolis)

  • Minneapolis/Gateway Ramp
  • Downtown Minneapolis
  • I-35W Lake Street Freeway Station
  • Palomino Park & Ride
  • Eastview High School
  • Johnny Cake Ridge Road
  • 140th Street
  • Essex Area
  • Connemara Trail
  • Rosemount Transit Station

Route 477

(Express Route - Lakeville to/from Downtown Minneapolis)

Route 478

(Express Route - Rosemount to/from Downtown Minneapolis)

  • Minneapolis/Gateway Ramp
  • Downtown Minneapolis
  • I-35W Lake Street Freeway Station
  • Rosemount Transit Station
  • Independent School District 196 Office Site

Route 479

(Express Route - Apple Valley to/from Downtown Minneapolis)

  • Minneapolis/Gateway Ramp
  • Downtown Minneapolis
  • I-35W Lake Street Freeway Station
  • 157th Street Station

Route 480

(Express Bus Stop Route - Apple Valley, Burnsville & Eagan to/from Downtown Saint Paul)

  • Downtown St. Paul/Union Depot
  • Eagan Transit Station
  • Blackhawk Park & Ride
  • Cliff Road
  • Burnsville Parkway
  • Heart of the City Park & Ride
  • Palomino Park & Ride
  • Apple Valley Transit Station

Route 484

(Express Route - Eagan to/from Downtown Saint Paul)

Route 489

(Limited Stop Reverse Commute - Downtown Saint Paul to/from Eagan)

  • Downtown St. Paul/Union Depot
  • Lexington Circuit
  • USPS National Distribution Center[5]
  • Thomson Reuters
  • Dakota County/Eagan Recycling Center
  • Ecolab - Shuman Campus
  • Boulder Lakes Business Center

Route 490

(Express Route - University of Minnesota to/from Prior Lake & Shakopee)

  • University of Minnesota
  • Downtown Minneapolis
  • Marschall Road Transit Station
  • Eagle Creek Park & Ride
  • Southbridge Crossing

Route 491

(Limited Stop Reverse Commute - Downtown Minneapolis to/from Eagan, Shakopee & Prior Lake)

  • Downtown Minneapolis
  • Cedar Grove Transit Station
  • Eagle Creek Park & Ride
  • Southbridge Crossing
  • Dakotah Parkway

Route 492

(Limited Stop Reverse Commute - Downtown Minneapolis to/from Eagan, Prior Lake)

  • Downtown Minneapolis
  • Cedar Grove Transit Station
  • Lakefront Community Park (Eagle Creek Rd & County Road 21)

Route 493

(Express Route - Shakopee to/from Downtown Minneapolis)

  • Downtown Minneapolis
  • Marschall Road Transit Station

Route 496

(Local Route/Bus Stop Circular - Shakopee)

  • Shakopee Walmart
  • Seagate Park and Ride
  • Canterbury Park
  • Vierling Drive
  • St. Francis Hospital
  • Marschall Road Transit Station
  • Townline Avenue
  • Spencer Street
  • River City/Northridge

Route 498

(Shuttle Route - Shakopee)

  • Southbridge Park & Ride
  • Seagate Park and Ride
  • Canterbury Park
  • Vierling Drive
  • St. Francis Hospital
  • 10th Avenue
  • Lions Park
  • Shakopee Town Square Mall

Transit centers / park-and-rides

See also

External links

Notes

  1. At the moment, Lakeville is not really apart of the MVTA's official service roster, however there is one express route, Route 477, that serves Lakeville Cedar Park and Ride.

References