Residents in North Minneapolis can now catch a ride when and where they need it using Metro Transit micro, the first public on-demand ridesharing service in the City of Minneapolis. To request a ride, customers will need to download the Metro Transit micro app.
“This service will give more people opportunities to travel without relying on a personal vehicle,” Metro Transit General Manager Wes Kooistra said. “It is a step forward in meeting the unique mobility needs of our customers by improving access to our existing transit network.”
Here is what users need to know about Metro Transit micro:
- Using the Metro Transit micro app, rides can be requested within a 2.5 square mile area roughly bounded by I-94 to the east, I-394 to the south, Theodore Wirth Regional Park to the west, and Golden Valley Road/West Broadway Avenue to the North. Trips can be taken to any destination within this service area.
- Five minibuses will be in service between 5 a.m. and midnight, every day of the week. Once a request is made, customers can track the vehicle’s location in real time; wait times will vary but the small service area should mean pick-ups should generally occur within a few minutes.
- Trips on Metro Transit micro cost the same as a regular route transit fare, and can be purchased through the Metro Transit mobile ticketing app, using a Go-To Card or cash.
The Metro Transit micro service area was selected to supplement existing transit service in North Minneapolis, including the METRO C Line, and to support Metro Transit’s goal of advancing equity in the region.
Of the nearly 7,500 residents who live in the service area, about 60% are Black and the median annual household income is about $30,000.
Metro Transit micro is a partnership between the Metropolitan Council, Metro Transit, and Transit Team, whose operators will provide the service under contract. The app is offered by Via Mobility.