Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2007
METRO TRANSIT TO PROVIDE COMMUTERS MORE
OPTIONS TO AVOID I-35W/CROSSTOWN CONGESTION
MINNEAPOLIS – (Aug. 30) – Metro Transit is providing south-metro commuters traveling to downtown Minneapolis more options to avoid congestion caused by the I-35W/Crosstown construction project.
Starting Monday, Sept. 10, Metro Transit will enhance Route 576 service and launch a new Express Route 558, both of which travel between Richfield and downtown.
As part of the enhancements, Route 576 will become a faster express route that will pick up customers at the Knox Avenue (at Best Buy) park-and-ride lot and then travel non-stop to downtown Minneapolis on I-35W. There are 490 free parking spaces at the park-and-ride lot.
Route 576 offers nine weekday round trips. The first morning trip leaves the park-and-ride at 6:20 a.m., while the last afternoon trip leaves downtown at 5:48 p.m. Buses travel on 2nd Avenue South in downtown. Travel time from the park-and-ride to downtown Minneapolis will be about 20 minutes.
The Knox Avenue Park & Ride also is served by Route 535 during midday and evening hours, providing customers an option to return to their cars when Route 576 isn’t operating.
New Route 558 will give residents another option for travel weekdays between Richfield and downtown Minneapolis. That route will provide four morning trips from the Knox Avenue (at Best Buy) park-and-ride facility to downtown Minneapolis and four return trips to Richfield.
Residents also can board Route 558 right in their neighborhood. Buses travel on 76th Street, Penn Avenue, 66th Street and Lyndale Avenue in Richfield.
Morning trips leave the park-and-ride lot at 6:14 a.m., 6:39 a.m., 7:06 a.m., 7:36 a.m. and 8:11 a.m. Buses travel on 2nd Avenue South downtown.
Route 558’s return service from downtown leaves 2nd Avenue South and 2nd Street at 4:03 p.m., 4:36 p.m., 5:06 p.m. and 5:41 p.m. Buses make additional downtown stops along 2nd Avenue South before returning to Richfield. Travel time will be about 30 minutes.
The cash fare for both routes is $2.75 each way, with discounts available for those who buy SuperSaver transit passes.
In another enhancement, Metro Transit is expanding the 80-space park-and-ride lot at South Bloomington Transit Center by 110 spaces. That facility is served by Routes 18, 535, 554, 557 and 597, all of which travel to downtown Minneapolis.
For trip planning services, customers can speak with a transit expert at 612-373-3333 or use the online trip planner at metrotransit.org.
Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, provided customers more than 73 million rides in 2006. Ridership through July is up 5 percent above the same period last year.
(Editors: For information call Bob Gibbons, director of customer services, 612-349-7509 or via e-mail at robert.gibbons@metc.state.mn.us)
