A bill moving through the Minnesota House would require the State Fair to create a multi-modal transportation plan to alleviate traffic congestion and parking shortages.
Representative Rick Hansen (DFL- South St. Paul) and Frank Hornstein (DFL–Minneapolis) are the bill's authors and it directs the State Agricultural Society (who oversees the State Fair) to develop a Transportation Plan along with the Metropolitan Council by August 1, 2024.
"Last year was an especially challenging Fair," said Hansen. "If anybody tried to get there during some peak times, it was a snag or a snarl of transportation challenges and at the that time, a number of us were hearing from our constituents. There needs to be something done."
State Fair officials say while there are many different, well-utilized transportation and parking options, they were hampered last year by Metro Transit's driver shortage and construction near the Fairgrounds.
Fair CEO Renee Alexander told a House committee another factor is the closure of more than half of their Express Service lots.
"That has been one of the biggest challenges, they provide kind of that second ring service," says Alexander. "So having the, you know, about 50% less lots has certainly compounded the issue that we have as people tory to come closer to the Fair to park."
Alexander says construction near the Fairgrounds also hampered parking lot access last year. She says one 'positive' in recent years has been the number of people riding their bikes to the Fair.
The Minnesota State Fair regularly attracts over 120,000 per day during its 12-day run.