Metro Transit has had so much success hiring new bus drivers this year that they are adding a new stop to their Minnesota State Fair express service.
Metro Transit's Drew Kerr says they now have 1,100 bus operators on staff.
"We've hired almost 300 bus drivers this year, we have hundreds more that are in the process," said Kerr. "As our staffing has increased, our ability to provide that (state fair) service has also increased."
Added to the service is a park-and-ride at 95th Avenue in Blaine.
There are three other Metro Transit pickups, one each in Minnetonka, Bloomington, and Cottage Grove.
Kerr says they are still looking to hire more bus drivers, and may increase State Fair service in the coming years.
"We'll have to evaluate every year," Kerr said. "We're going to take a look at how did we do last year, where can we improve, where's the demand..."
As for the 2023 Minnesota State Fair, things are in good shape.
"We're really happy with the position that we're in this year," he said. "The express buses are coming from every point of the region, north, east, west, and south."
Here are the Metro Transit State Fair express bus stop locations:
95th Ave. Park & Ride, Blaine
I-394 & Co. Rd. 73 Park & Ride, Minnetonka
30th Ave. Park & Ride, Bloomington
Cottage Grove Park & Ride, Cottage Grove
The Metro Transit buses use the University of Minnesota transitway for quicker service to the fairgrounds.
The buses leave each stop every 30 minutes from 9:00m a.m. on weekdays and an hour earlier on weekends and Labor Day.
Fairgoers traveling on regular routes are encouraged to purchase an All-Day Pass in advance using the Metro Transit app.
