Now more than ever, transit should be top of mind

I was asked this week to guide a local columnist who plans to juxtapose transit and rideshare services given recent discussions here in the Twin Cities. As I explained to her, transit can fill a void if there’s a shake-up in the rideshare market. But for a variety of reasons it really should be top of mind no matter what direction things go in.

Here's what I offered to her in thinking about how transit can set itself apart and make the most of this moment.

• We know taking transit can be imposing to first-time and infrequent riders and have done a lot of work to make things as intuitive as possible. Our website is full of great info, and if a higher touch is needed folks can always chat, text, or talk with our resident experts. We’ll also send folks out for 1:1 or group support and are lucky to have help from groups like Move Minneapolis that work directly with employers/employees as well. Just like rideshare, you can track our buses and trains in real-time and buy tickets through your phone. Here’s a little how-to I wrote recently for eventgoers, to give you a flavor. And, here’s a direct appeal from our general manager to give us a try (who by the way is a daily transit rider on a mission to ride every route we operate during her first year on the job).?
• Transit isn’t available everywhere all the time, but it’s in a lot of places a lot of the time! We have 100+ active bus routes operating across the region, including many that run past midnight. We’ll continue expanding service as we bring on more operators and have plans to open three new Bus Rapid Transit (fancy) lines in 2025. We’ve also been dipping our toes in the water with on-demand service that can help fill in the gaps. We’ll be asking folks this summer to weigh in on service improvements we can make in the coming years, in addition to expanding our BRT and light rail network. Take it away, Paul…?
• Aside from service improvements, we’re putting a lot of emphasis into making transit feel safer and more welcoming. We have a new team of friendly TRIP Agents working on light rail, have added security to busy locations like the Lake Street/Midtown Station, and are doing more than ever to keep vehicles and stations clean. We’re working to build a respectful culture on transit, clearly posting rider expectations at stations and encouraging folks to “Take Pride in Your Ride” by picking up after themselves, keeping music down, etc. As our police chief likes to say, there’s also safety in numbers – the more people who ride, the better things become. Ridership grew 16% last year and is up a similar amount through the first few months of this year. Life ain’t perfect, but if you ask these toddlers it ain’t all bad, either.?
• We are a top-notch employer and are looking to hire hundreds of operators, technicians, police officers, etc. so we can improve and expand.? As part of that effort, we recently increased wages for represented employees who also enjoy competitive benefits, a pension, and career development opportunities. We’ve also partnered with labor on an operator apprentice program that recognizes the skill required to be in command of a bus. Not every operator works here 47 years, but a heck of a lot of them work here for 30-plus, which I think tells you something. ??
• Cost should never be a barrier to taking transit. Folks who qualify can ride for the price of one George Washington through our Transit Assistance Program. We also have programs that make transit more affordable for high school and college students, and reduced fares for youth, seniors, persons with disabilities and Medicare card holders. We’re continually tackling language and accessibility barriers, too.