New peak express bus service from Lakeville to downtown Minneapolis launches Sept. 28

Sept. 22, 2009--Lakeville residents will have new commuting options to downtown Minneapolis beginning Sept. 28. That’s when Metro Transit begins operating service on I-35W from the new 750-space park-and-ride ramp at Kenrick Avenue in Lakeville, and MVTA begins offering service along Cedar Avenue from a second park-and-ride location in Lakeville.

The park-and-ride facilities are funded through the Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA), a federal/state project aimed at reducing traffic congestion. In addition to Council funding, the express service is supported by a grant from the Counties Transit Improvement Board.

“It is a real thrill to see this service becoming reality,” said Council Chair Peter Bell. “The UPA grant allowed us to accelerate the debut of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the metro area, helping to grow transit ridership, ease congestion and improve mobility. We also welcome the City of Lakeville to metro-area transit services.”

Metro Transit Route 467

Metro Transit express route 467 will offer nonstop service, with six morning trips to downtown and six return trips in the afternoon. Buses will serve the new 750-space park-and-ride ramp at Kenrick Avenue in Lakeville and travel on the new I-35W MnPASS lanes.

Travel time to downtown Minneapolis is about 30 minutes.

Morning trips leave the Kenrick Avenue Park-and-Ride at 6:06 a.m., 6:36 a.m., 6:51 a.m., 7:01 a.m., 7:16 a.m. and 7:36 a.m. Return service to Lakeville leaves downtown Minneapolis at 4:11 p.m., 4:33 p.m., 4:43 p.m., 5:03 p.m., 5:13 p.m. and 5:43 p.m.

“We’re excited to see this and other UPA projects take shape around the metro area,” said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb. “With the addition of more park-and-ride spaces and new express bus service in the I-35 corridor, we’re giving downtown workers more options for a faster, more comfortable commute.”

New coach buses, which seat 57 customers, will be used on the route, featuring high back chairs, reading lights and overhead storage compartments.

For trip planning services Metro Transit routes, customers can speak with a transit expert at 612-373-3333 or use the interactive Trip Planner at metrotransit.org.

MVTA Route 477V

MVTA Route 477V offers five morning and five afternoon trips each weekday, also on coach buses.

Until completion of the 190-space Lakeville Cedar Park-and-Ride this fall near Cedar Avenue and 181st Street, trips will initially depart from the Crossroads United Methodist Church at 176th Street and Glacier Way, behind Cub Foods.

Morning trips will depart at 5:25 a.m., 6:07 a.m., 6:33 a.m., 7:03 a.m. and 7:29 a.m., with a stop at the Apple Valley Transit Station. Return service to Lakeville leaves downtown Minneapolis from the Gateway Ramp at 3:26 p.m., 4:13 p.m., 4:27 p.m., 5:11 p.m. and 5:27 p.m. The service is provided under contract to the Metropolitan Council and is an extension of existing MVTA Route 477.

MVTA route schedules are available at www.mvta.com, or by calling 952-882-7500. Schedules are also available at Lakeville City Hall or the Heritage Library in Lakeville.

“We know there are many riders from Lakeville using the MVTA system, so we are pleased to provide this ‘closer to home’ service to our customers and other nearby residents,” said MVTA Board Chair and Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz.

MARQ2 project nearing completion

Effective Dec. 14, these routes will travel on Marquette and 2nd avenues in downtown Minneapolis. Transit improvements, including side-by-side bus-only lanes, will be in place in this corridor, improving travel times of buses through downtown.

The cash fare is $3 each way, with discounts available for those customers who use Go-To Cards or other advance-sale transit passes such as the U-Pass or Metropass.

Metro Transit is a service of the Metropolitan Council. In 2008, customers boarded its buses and trains nearly 82 million times, the highest annual ridership in 27 years.

MVTA is the public transportation provider for the businesses and residents of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount and Savage.

(Photo of new coach bus and graphic of the park-and-ride locations are available upon request)

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