(BLAINE – August 26, 2021) – If you usually get to the Minnesota State Fair using a Metro Transit Express route, you may have to change your plans. The special State Fair Express from the 95th Avenue Park and Ride in Blaine is one of several around the metro that’s discontinued this year.
In 2019, nearly 550,000 thousand people rode ten express routes to the fair. This year, Metro Transit is only running three express routes in Minnetonka, Cottage Grove, and Bloomington. Like many employers, the agency faces a labor shortage and is down by more than 60 drivers.
“It’s simply a balancing act of, ‘can we do all the State Fair service that we want to, can we provide all the promised rides on our regular schedule that we want to?'” said Metro Transit Spokesperson Howie Padilla. “We can’t do both at the same time. We’re trying to strike a balance of what can we do and still honor our commitment to our regular scheduled riders.”
Another option for North-Metro fair goers might be park and ride lots operate by the state fair closer to the fairgrounds.
Meanwhile, Metro Transit continues to recruit drivers. They offer training and starting salaries of more than $20 an hour for new hires.
