Sweeping bus route changes will have an impact
December 2021
By Access Press Staff
As of December 4, sixteen Metro Transit bus routes, including the previously busy Route 16, have been suspended, and various other routes in the Twin Cities transit network are experiencing reduced trip frequency and schedule changes, resulting in a five percent reduction in service hours.
The changes are prompted by declining regional and national transit ridership, exacerbated by a shortage of drivers. Route 16, once a major connection between Minneapolis and St. Paul downtowns, underwent cutbacks in 2014 due to the opening of the Green Line light rail. The adjustments also impact paratransit services provided by Metro Mobility under the Americans with Disabilities Act, with changes aligning with updates to the regular route system.
The transit agency faces challenges in hiring bus drivers, with approximately 80 operators still needed, prompting increased hiring incentives and signing bonuses. Efforts to balance service reliability, particularly in parallel routes to existing rail or bus rapid transit lines, and equity among neighborhoods are ongoing concerns for Metro Transit officials.
Sweeping bus route changes will have an impact | Access Press