Ridership on public transit is up thanks to University of Minnesota students and staff. Students have unlimited access to the Twin Cities Metro Transit system using their student ID as a pass.
"We are seeing a really good uptake on usage in particular, and we're seeing a lot of faculty and staff who are already activating their passes and using those as well," says Vice President for University Services Alice Roberts-Davis.
Metro Transit Communications Manager Drew Kerr says University riders are making an impact.
"There have been almost 1.2 million rides already this year among students, faculty and staff," Kerr explains. "So that's a big, big increase over the same period last year. A 61% increase. So that's really encouraging."
More than 31 million passengers took Metro Transit within the first two thirds of the year with 3% of the rides coming from Universal Transit Pass holders.
University of Minnesota students who pay the Transportation and Safety Fee have unlimited access to the regional transit system in the Twin Cities metro area (rides on the NorthStar require a small supplemental fare for each ride). U of M employees also get similar benefits.