Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EXPANDED WEST METRO
PARK-AND-RIDE RE-OPENS JUNE 4
Minneapolis – (May 8) – West metro commuters will soon get some relief from congestion when they can once again park their cars at an expanded park-and-ride and take a Metro Transit bus for fast, frequent service to downtown Minneapolis or the University of Minnesota.
A new three-level parking ramp opens Monday, June 4, at the park-and-ride, located on the southwest corner of I-394 and County Road 73 in Minnetonka. The ramp replaces a 188-car surface lot, which has been closed for about a year during construction. The new ramp features 750 free parking spaces.
“The expanded facility will help take pressure off a travel corridor with the some of the highest unmet demand for park-and-ride spaces for people traveling to downtown Minneapolis,” said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb.
Metro Transit, MnDOT and the City of Minnetonka collaborated on the new ramp.
“Funded through Minnesota’s Bond Accelerated Program, this project is a good example of interagency cooperation and showcases what can be done through bonding packages,” said Jennifer Conover, MnDOT Team Transit project manager.
To celebrate the re-opening of the park-and-ride on June 4, officials from the three partner agencies will offer customers free round-trip rides on express routes 652, 673 and 675, which serve the park-and-ride. In addition, officials will greet customers and provide complimentary refreshments and route schedules between 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. that day.
“Transportation is a major issue for Minnetonka residents and businesses,” said Minnetonka Mayor Jan Callison. “Improving mass transit through the construction of facilities such as this new park-and-ride ramp gives residents additional transportation options, helps slow traffic congestion and has the potential to reduce greenhouse gases.”
For help planning a trip, customers can speak with a transit information representative at 612-373-3333 or use the interactive Trip Planner at metrotransit.org.
Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, provided customers more than 73 million rides in 2006.
