Local transit

Last year, the Minnesota Department of Transportation conducted a study on dynamic transportation options in Greater Minnesota. This report fulfils the requirements laid out under 2024 Laws of Minn., Ch. 127, Art. 3, Sec. 124 providing an overview of the existing conditions in non-metropolitan areas and recommendations for a pilot program.

The transportation system in Minnesota plays an important role in supporting our state’s economy and connecting our communities to each other. Whether it’s access to work, school, shopping, getting medical care, or socializing with friends and family, everyone needs to be able to use and have access to our transportation system. The Legislature formed the Minnesota Council on Transportation Access (referred to as MCOTA) under Minn. Stat. 174.285 in 2010 to “study, evaluate, oversee and make recommendations to improve the coordination, availability, accessibility, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and safety of transportation services provided to the transit public.” Since then, MCOTA has worked to improve mobility options for those who live and visit our state. MCOTA is led by staff from the Department of Transportation who work with partner agencies, organizations, and stakeholders to continue to reduce barriers in the transportation system. This includes working with Transit Assistance Coordination Projects (TCAPs) in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area and Regional Transportation Coordinating Councils (RTCCs) in Greater Minnesota to connect users to services throughout the state and recruit new providers, as per the 2020-2024 MCOTA Strategic Plan. MCOTA also works with partners to identify issues that can be improved upon through the legislative process, and endorsing and supporting legislation that improves access and mobility options. MCOTA members connect with existing and potential stakeholders and share educational and networking opportunities.

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2009-24, “Access to Destinations: Application of Accessibility Measures for Non-Auto Travel Modes,” published July 2009.

Mass transit's role in the overall motorized person transportation complex in the large metropolitan area is an important one. A quantitative definition of that role can therefore contribute substantially to the growing body of knowledge which will have application in an integrated approach to the solution of the metropolitan area's transportation problems - that is, an approach incorporating all vehicle and motorized person travel in the metropolitan area and the major factors influencing its patterns, such as land use and socio-economic activities. This publication reports the results of a study of mass transit person movement in the Minneapolis and St. Paul urban area. The study was undertaken jointly by the Minnesota Department of Highways, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads, and the Twin Cities Metropolitan Planning Commission. A separate report will be published by the Twin Cities Metropolitan Planning Commission. The raw data for both publications were mainly obtained from a comprehensive body of travel survey data collected in 1958 in the Twin Cities Area Transportation Study, which was conducted by the Minnesota Highway Department in cooperation with the Bureau of Public Roads. The objectives of this report are to describe the present characteristics of mass transit travel in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and identify the major factors influencing usage of the mass transit mode. These determinations, in a quantified form, provide basic relationships for planning and forecasting the future role of mass transit as a mode of person travel in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

This document is a directory of transportation providers in greater Minnesota.

Minnesota's public transit systems provide transportation alternatives to driving alone and enable all citizens to participate in the state's communities and economy. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT)'s strategic vision is to be a global leader in transportation. Mn/DOT is committed to upholding public needs and collaboration with internal and external partners to create a safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation system for the future. To that end, Mn/DOT's strategic directions include improving mobility and accessibility for all Minnesotans through the promotion of public transportation. The Greater Minnesota Transit Investment Plan projects future need for transit services in Greater Minnesota and estimates the cost of providing additional services to reduce unmet need. In 2009, Mn/DOT completed the Greater Minnesota Transit Plan, a policy plan that defined the vision, policies, and strategies for transit in Greater Minnesota. The Greater Minnesota Transit Investment Plan identifies specific priorities for future transit investment. These investment priorities connect the goals of the policy plan to Mn/DOT's annual funding allocation to individual transit systems. The Greater Minnesota Transit Investment Plan will help decision-makers prepare for growing transit demand in Minnesota and increase public understanding of Mn/DOT's priorities for future transit investment.

Public transportation empowers individuals to be independent, seek and retain employment, access medical care, and gain access to new opportunities. The Greater Minnesota Transit Plan is a 20-year strategic plan that sets forth future directions for the future of public transportation in Greater Minnesota. The plan describes current challenges in the state, examines future transit service needs and analyzes future levels of funding to meet that need.

This document is the result of a two-year planning effort to develop a public transportation plan for Greater Minnesota. Greater Minnesota refers to the 80 counties outside of the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. It is one of the products of the Minnesota Department of Transportation's long-range plan to keep "Moving Minnesota." The mission of Mn/DOT's Office of Transit is "to help people and communities meet their mobility need by supporting safe, responsive, efficient and environmentally sound transit service." This plan translates that mission into a plan for a statewide network of public transportation services throughout Greater Minnesota. Ten years ago, public transportation services existed throughout 37 counties and in 22 municipalities. Twenty-one counties were without service. Today, there is public transportation service in 64 counties and nine municipalities. Seven counties are without service. Through this plan, Mn/DOT continues working toward the goal of making public transit available to residents of all 80 counties in Greater Minnesota. This will be accomplished by; increased service efficiency, coordinate and cooperate with special transportation services, and committing more resources.

This summary of the Interagency Task Force on Coordination of Special Transportation report presents a quick review of compiled data, analysis and evaluation made by a fifteen member Task Force. It presents pertinent background information, existing State and Federal programs funding Minnesota's special transportation, potential strategies for coordination, and major concerns and recommendations.

The Minnesota Public Transit and Human Services Coordination Study, a state initiative undertaken by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in cooperation with the Metropolitan Council, undertook this project to establish a planning Framework to educate public transit and human service transportation stakeholders at the local level (e.g., organizations responsible for transporting agency clients, students, and the general public) about the benefits of coordinating public transit and human service transportation, identify transit industry Best Practices in public transit and human service transportation coordination activities, and develop a statewide action plan for improving transportation coordination.