Minnesota Valley Transit Authority

The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, also known by the acronym MVTA, is a public transportation agency that provides fixed-route and demand-responsive public bus services between various communities in the southern portion of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, and to select destinations within Minneapolis and St. Paul, located in Minnesota.

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority
Founded1990
HeadquartersBurnsville, Minnesota
LocaleMinneapolis-St. Paul (southern region), including:
Burnsville
Eagan
Apple Valley
Savage
Rosemount
Lakeville[lower-alpha 1]
Shakopee
Prior Lake
Service typeBus
Routes30
Fleet160
Daily ridership9,500 (Q3 2012)[1]
OperatorSchmitty and Sons[2]
Executive DirectorLuther Wynder
Websitehttp://www.mvta.com

The agency's name refers to the river valley along the Minnesota River in the region.

Service area

The MVTA 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 also 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.

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 however they rejoined in September, 2014.

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

In September 2014, 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 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 drivers 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: the replacement of Metro Transit Route 535 and an 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 HOV lane extensions to Downtown Minneapolis and relocating the Lake St. station to the median of the freeway. Metro Transit will be the primary operator of the line (with the MVTA being a project partner). Construction started in 2018, with the line anticipated to open in 2021.

Robert Street transitway
Main article: Robert Street Corridor

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 are included in the south end of the corridor.

BlueXpress
BlueXpress logo, used 2007 to 2015 MVTA merger
BlueXpress buses prior to 2015

BlueXpress was a public transit service operated by the two cities of Prior Lake and Shakopee. It consisted of five bus routes, the 490, 491, 492, 496, and 498.

In September 2014, the two cities reached a deal with the MVTA to merge their services. As of 1 January 2015, all former BlueXpress services and its five routes are now operated by the MVTA.

Bus route

Notes

Routes 460, 464, 465, 470, 472, 476, 477, 478, 479, 491 and 492 make stops at the I-35W Lake Street/Powderhorn Station

Route 436 offers service from the 46th Street METRO Blue Line Station to Ecolab, Boulder Lakes and Thomson Reuters in Eagan.
Route 440 offers rush-hour service to VA Medical Center.
Route 465 offers service from Burnsville to the South Bloomington Transit Center and the University of Minnesota campus.
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 495 between Mall of America, Burnsville and Shakopee that started operating on August 20, 2016.[4]

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
  • Dakota County Technical College

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)

  • 46th Street Station
  • Mendota Heights
  • Brown College
  • Eagandale
  • Blue Gentian Road
  • Highway 55
  • Highway 149
  • Ecolab - Shuman Campus
  • Boulder Lakes Business Park
  • Dakota County/Eagan Recycling Center
  • Thomson Reuters

Route 438

(Local Route - Eagan)

  • Cedar Grove Transit Station
  • Twin Cities Premium Outlets - Eagan/Cedar Grove Mall[5]
  • Cliff Lake
  • Rahn Road
  • Blackhawk P&R
  • Cliff Square
  • Thomas Lake Road

Route 440

(Local Route — Apple Valley to/from Minneapolis)

  • VA Medical Center
  • Cedar Grove Transit Station
  • Twin Cities Premium Outlets - Eagan/Cedar Grove Mall[5]
  • Palomino Park & Ride
  • Minnesota Zoo
  • Johnny Cake Ridge Road
  • Pennock Ave
  • 140th Street Station
  • 147th Street Station
  • Galaxie Library
  • Garret Ave
  • Southport Shopping Center
  • Apple Valley Transit Station

Route 442

(Local Route — Apple Valley to/from Burnsville)

Route 444

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

  • Mall of America
  • Metcalf Middle School
  • Cedar Grove Transit Station
  • Traverlers Trail
  • 122nd Street
  • Highway 13
  • Burnsville Transit Station
  • Heart of the City
  • Nicollet Square
  • Burnsville Parkway
  • County Road 5
  • Burnsville Center
  • County Road 42
  • Savage P&R

Route 445

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

  • Cedar Grove Transit Station
  • Twin Cities Premium Outlets - Eagan/Cedar Grove Mall[5]
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Donald Ave
  • Coachman Oaks
  • Yankee Doodle Road
  • Eagan Transit Station
  • Duckwood Square
  • Eagan Town Center
  • Opperman Drive
  • Argenta Trail
  • Thomson Reuters

Route 446

(Local Route — Eagan to/from Minneapolis)

  • 46th Street Station
  • Highway 62 (Victoria Rd./Lexington)
  • Parkview Plaza
  • Mendota Plaza
  • Mendakota Country Club
  • Sunfish Lake
  • St. Thomas Academy
  • Convent of the Visitation
  • Rogers Lake
  • Mendota Heights Business Park
  • Le Cordon Bleu
  • Brown College
  • Avalon Business Center
  • Lockheed/Martin
  • Oakview Business Park
  • Eagandale
  • Corporate Center Drive
  • Lexington Circuit
  • Minneapolis USPS National Distribution Center[6]
  • Eagan Transit Station
  • Eagan Town Center
  • Eagan Promenade
  • Eagan City Hall & Civic Arena
  • Cascade Bay
  • Wescott Road
  • Denmark Ave
  • Duckwood Drive
  • Northview Park Road
  • Elrene Road
  • Lexington - Diffley Outlet Center & Athletic Fields
  • Braddock Trail (Eagan High School / Dakota Hills Middle School)

Route 460

(Express Route — Burnsville to/from Downtown Minneapolis)

  • Minneapolis/Gateway Ramp
  • I-35W Lake Street Freeway Station
  • Burnsville Transit Station

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)

  • Minneapolis/Gateway Ramp
  • Downtown Minneapolis
  • I-35W Lake Street Freeway Station
  • Palomino Park & Ride
  • Apple Valley Transit Station
  • 157th Street Station
  • Lakeville Cedar Station

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 and Rosemount to/from Downtown Saint Paul)

  • Downtown St. Paul/Union Depot
  • Argosy University
  • Lockheed/Martin
  • Unisys
  • Blue Cross / Blue Shield
  • Silver Bell Road
  • Rahn Road
  • Nichols Road
  • Rosemount Transit Station

Route 489

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

  • Downtown St. Paul/St. Paul Union Depot
  • Lexington Circuit
  • USPS National Distribution Center[6]
  • 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 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 495

(Express Route - Shakopee, Prior Lake to/from the Mall of America)

  • Mall of America
  • Burnsville Transit Station
  • Marschall Road Transit Station
  • Mystic Lake Casino

Route 497

(Local Route — Shakopee)

  • Marschall Road Transit Station
  • 10th Avenue
  • Lions Park
  • Shakopee Coummunity Center
  • Shakopee Town Square Mall

Route 498

(Express Route — Shakopee to/from Minnetonka/Golden Triangle)

  • Marschall Road Transit Station
  • United Health (Golden Triangle)

Route 499

(Local Route — Shakopee)

  • Marschall Road Transit Station
  • St. Francis Hospital
  • Canterbury Park
  • Vierling Drive
  • Dean Lakes Conntinetial
  • Southbridge Park & Ride

Transit centers / park-and-rides
  • Palomino Hills P&R (1993)
  • Burnsville Transit Station (1995)
  • Apple Valley Transit Station (1999)
  • Eagan Transit Station (1999)
  • Savage P&R (1999)
  • Blackhawk P&R (2002)
  • Heart of the City P&R (2004)
  • 157th Street Station (2006)
  • Southbridge Crossing Station (2007, acquired from BlueXpress merger)
  • Lakeville Cedar P&R (2009)
  • Kenrick Avenue P&R (2009, currently only serviced by Metro Transit)
  • Cedar Grove Transit Station (2010)
  • Rosemount Transit Station (2012)
  • Eagle Creek Park and Ride (2012, acquired from BlueXpress merger)
  • Marschall Road Transit Station (2014, established during BlueXpress merger)
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See also

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
  1. "Ridership Report Archives". American Public Transportation Association. Archived from the original on December 13, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  2. Schmitty and Sons Transit Service Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine
  3. http://www.mvta.com/news/mvta-merger-with-shakopee-prior-lake-official-jan-1/
  4. http://www.mvta.com/input-needed-on-new-route/
  5. http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=112
  6. USPS.com: Minneapolis United States Postal Service National Distribution Center
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