Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW BUS ROUTE 720 TO CONNECT
MAPLE GROVE AND BROOKLYN PARK
Minneapolis – (May 14) – Starting June 2, residents of the northwest metro will have a new east-west bus route connecting Maple Grove and Brooklyn Park, creating access for job seekers and shoppers to Maple Grove’s expanding retail and business district.
New Route 720 will offer hourly service between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays. It will serve Starlite Transit Center in Brooklyn Park and retail destinations in Maple Grove. Customers can transfer at Starlite Transit Center from routes 715, 723, 724 and 764.
The new route will travel on Brooklyn Boulevard (serving Hennepin Technical College), Elm Creek Boulevard and then along the roads that serve Fountains at Arbor Lakes, Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, Main Street, Grove Square and other retail destinations, ending just north of Weaver Lake Road.
The Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County and the City of Maple Grove collaborated on the project. Hennepin County’s human services staff identified a need to link its clients with the 1,800 new jobs in the Arbor Lakes/Elm Creek corridor in Maple Grove. At the same time, customers and stakeholders involved in the Northwest Metro Transit Restructuring Plan to improve service in the northwest metro said they would value transit service between the northwest suburbs and Maple Grove.
That service was identified as a future growth opportunity in Metro Transit’s restructuring plan, but became possible earlier when a funding plan came together. Under the plan, the Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County will split the cost of the new service, with half the money coming from a federal Job Access and Reverse Commute grant and the other half of the local match coming from Hennepin County. Route 720 will be a one-year demonstration route.
Route 720 is one of many transit service improvements outlined in the Northwest Metro Transit Restructuring Plan. The first phase of changes begins June 2, with a second phase tentatively set for early 2008.
“Four other bus routes will connect with Route 720 at Starlite Transit Center, which means that transit customers from the northwest metro will have a convenient link to Maple Grove,” said Tony Pistilli, the Metropolitan Council member who represents Brooklyn Park. “This service will integrate nicely with the rest of the improvements planned in the northwest metro.”
“Hennepin County is pleased to work with the Metropolitan Council and the City of Maple Grove to make this new route possible,” said Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. “Getting people to work makes sense for everyone. We believe there will be more than 60,000 riders on this route each year,” he said. “It’s time for this investment in people and transit service.”
“The City of Maple Grove is thrilled to have new bus route that focuses on the downtown retail market,” said Mike Opatz, Maple Grove transit administrator. “This route will not only bring shoppers to the front doors of many stores, but also provides an option for employees of these stores to get to work via public transit. It will be a nice complement as we strive to expand on the existing transit services we offer to our residents and visitors.”
The cash fare for new Route 720 is $2 during rush hours and $1.50 during non-rush hours.
Customers who want information on all northwest metro route changes have several options. They can get route and schedule information by calling 612-373-3333 or view maps and schedules at metrotransit.org. Customers also can request informational brochures on buses that serve the northwest metro.
Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, provided customers more than 73 million rides in 2006.
