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Sunday Fixed Route Service Begins May 11th.
Use the bus on Sunday for work, shopping, to study, to play...
Passes available starting May 12th Husky Fried Ride New Flyer Bus #701
The changes were approved at a public hearing on March 18th. The addition of Sunday fixed route service on May 11, 2008 will add another day of use to the current 7-Day and 31-Day pass use, the reason for making a pricing adjustment to reflect 7-day use of these passes.
The new Metro Bus fixed route Riders Guide is available for download. Printed copies can be obtained on buses, the Transit Center downtown or by calling 251.RIDE (7433). Click here to download the Riders Guide.
Metro Bus Fixed Route service will now be available 7-days a week.
For the first time since the 1950's, Metro Bus Fixed Route service will operate regular schedules on Sunday.
Sunday schedules will be similar to Saturdays for most routes.
Routes operating on Sunday are: (Click the route name to download the schedule.)
East Side
North Side
Pantown
Sauk Rapids
Southeast
South Side
Southwest
University
Waite Park
West Side
Above schedules take effect Sunday, May 11th.
Service on Route 75, Westwood and Sartell routes will not run on Sundays, however, general public Dial-a-Ride service will continue to be available to riders along those route areas.
Regular and reduced cash, transfer and 10-Ride pass fares will apply to Sunday buses including a new 1-Day pass priced at $3.00. However, prices for 7- and 31-Day passes do increase effective May 11th to reflect the additional operating day, with the 7-Day pass at $13.00 and 31-Day pass at $37.00.
1-Day passes will be available starting in June. More information will be forthcoming about how to purchase the new 1-Day pass.
Printed schedules that include Sunday service are available now at the Metro Bus Transit Center and on all buses, and after May 1st at major grocery stores and schedule outlets.
Posted 4/24/08, Updated 4/25/08, 5/5/08
The FREE Summer Youth Pass is Available Again This Summer!
The Summer Youth Pass Program is ready to go again this summer for kids age 6-17. Passes may be picked up at the Metro Bus Transit Center downtown St. Cloud. A parent or guardian must complete the registration form at the Transit Center to obtain the pass. Passes are good for unlimited rides on any Metro Bus regular route from June 1st to September 1st. Use your pass to go to summer activities, ball games, tennis or swimming lessons without having to make Mom or Dad take you or take the bus to meet your friends at the Mall or the movies. Adults or persons 18 and older may not use a summer youth pass. If lost, a pass can be replaced once for a $5.00 charge. For more information call 251.RIDE(7433).
Click here to download the Summer Youth Pass information flyer and registration form.
Posted 5/5/08
Metro Bus and SCSU Unveil Bus Powered by Recycled Vegetable Oil.
A Metro Bus powered by recycled deep fryer vegetable oil – called the Husky Fried Ride – was unveiled in conjunction with Earth Day festivities Friday, April 18th, at St. Cloud State University. The Husky Fried Ride bus #701, a 40-foot 2005 New Flyer bus, is used in service at SCSU for Husky Shuttle and Campus Clipper routes.
Metro Bus and St. Cloud State University unveiled the bus that is powered by a mixture of 80 percent recycled vegetable oil and 20 percent diesel fuel. The vegetable oil comes from deep fryers at St. Cloud State, where Sodexo provides foodservice for Garvey Commons and Atwood Center.
It is believed that this is the first transit bus system in the nation to use waste vegetable oil to power a public transit bus. Project costs, estimated at over $7,000 include the fuel system conversion, and equipment to collect, filter, store, mix and warm the fuel.
Fuel cost savings are estimated at approximately $2.30 per gallon compared to the cost diesel fuel.
Metro Bus has plans that additional buses will be added to operate on this new fuel.
Partners for the Husky Fried Ride bus project and unveiling are: Metro Bus, SCSU Administration and Student Government, Sodexo, and Rheaume’s House of Lettering.
The unique and exciting bus wrap design was developed in-house by SCSU Communications Department staff with input from project partners.
Local, statewide and national media coverage helped get the message out about this unique project.
Posted 4/18/08
7-Day and 31-Day pass price changes and new 1-Day pass approved. Take effect May 11th.
The following pass price changes were approved:
Adjust 7-Day pass from $12.00 to $13.00
Adjust 31-Day pass from $35.00 to $37.00
Add a new 1-Day pass priced at $3.00
No other changes were proposed for Dial-a-Ride fares, fixed route reduced or regular cash, token or 10-Ride pass fares.
The new 1-Day pass will be available in June. More information on how to purchase 1-Day passes will be forthcoming.
These pass price changes would go into effect on Sunday, May 11, 2008, the day Sunday Fixed Route service begins. Sunday routes will have a schedule similar to Saturday routes, except it will start an hour later and end an hour earlier.
Sunday routes include Waite Park, Pantown, West Side, North Side, South Side, East Side, Southeast, Sauk Rapids, University, and Southwest.
Routes not operating on Sunday will be Westwood, Sartell, and Route 75; they will be covered by Dial-a-Ride.
Posted 3/5/08, Updated 3/20/08, 5/5/08
Metro Bus Named #1 Transit System in North America
Metro Bus has been named the best transit system of it’s size in North America by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award was presented to Metro Bus at the APTA Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 9, 2007. APTA gives out the Outstanding Achievement Award annually to honor transit systems demonstrating exceptional efficiency and effectiveness.
Metro Bus was also voted #1 in 1990. No other Minnesota transit system can claim multiple wins as “America’s Best”; in fact, very few nationwide can. “To receive this national award twice is humbling,” said David W. Tripp, Metro Bus Executive Director. “Our success is due to people - - the customers we are privileged to serve, our employees who provide impeccable service, our community leaders and business and agency partners with whom strong relationships are valued. In several days we will also be reaching the 2,000,000 annual rider plateau for the first time since 1949, bringing further pride to this organization.
” Congratulating Metro Bus on behalf of the State of Minnesota, Governor Tim Pawlenty said “this prestigious award is testament to your outstanding dedication in providing safe and dependable public transportation to the St. Cloud Metro area”. "Our dedicated Metro Bus employees work hard to ensure the highest quality of service, and the Board is immensely proud of them,” said Commission Chairman Paul L. Ringsmuth. “It also recognizes the broad support we receive from our four communities which helps maintain this critical public service."
“Congratulations to St. Cloud Metro Bus for being recognized as the 2007 top transit agency in North America in the category of 1-4 million trips annually,” said American Public Transportation Association President William W. Millar. “With strong ridership increases; a culture that emphasizes safety; and the implementation of technological innovations, St. Cloud is a transit system that demonstrates excellence. Receiving this prestigious honor means that St. Cloud Metro Bus and its employees are the “best of the best” in North America.” APTA is a nonprofit international association of 1,500 member organizations, including bus, rapid transit and commuter rail systems. APTA members serve more than 90 percent of people who use public transportation in the United States and Canada. .
Posted 10/4/07
Congratulations to Melody Thayer of St. Cloud - The 2,000,000th rider.
Metro Bus recognized the reaching of 2,000,000 riders Thursday, September 27th when Melody boarded the East Side route at 8:30 a.m. The official count-up celebration began Sunday, August 26th, and continued each week until we reached the magic number.
The lucky 2,000,000th rider was recognized by Metro Bus, St. Cloud Times and Leighton Broadcasting stations with a prize package worth over $1,000, which featured a year's worth of 31-day passes, a $300 gift card from Coborns and a weekend getaway at Lutsen Resort.
Thank you to Leighton Broadcasting and stations Newstalk 1450 KNSI, Lite 99.9, 104.7 KCLD and Wild Country 99, the St. Cloud Times, Wells Fargo, New Flyer, GLT Architects, KDV, St. Cloud Truck Sales, Gray Plant Mooty, Bernicks Pepsi, Coborns, Mahowald Insurance, St. Cloud Refrigeration, Westwood Professional Services, Strack Companies, Lincoln Radiator & Auto Repair, Midwest EAP Solutions, JM SpeedStop Gas and Goods, and Subway for making the 2,000,000th rider event possible.
Thank you to all Metro Bus riders and employees and a special thank you to Mayors Kleis, Shaefer, O'Driscoll and Campbell for making Mayor Ride Along Days possible to thank our passengers.
Reposted 10/4/07
Advertise with Metro Bus
Advertise your business with Metro Bus. Affordable full-color bus wraps, bus shelters, courtesy benches and bus interior ad space is available. For more information click the link below or call our Marketing Coordinator 529-4480 for a rate quote.
Click here to download our Advertising Guide.
Posted 2/2/07
Fixed Route Riders Guide Available
Posted 11/15/06
Detours & Route Changes
Click Here For Detours and Route Changes Page
Last revised on May 6th 2008.