Five Stars for Going in the Right Direction: A Review of Metro Transit Metro Transit, the public transportation system serving the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, deserves a solid five-star rating--not just for reliability and reach, but for its meaningful progress over the years. As someone who began riding the bus regularly in middle school, I've had a front-row seat to the evolution of this system, and I can confidently say it's heading in the right direction. When I first started using Metro Transit, the experience was undeniably hit-or-miss. While the routes were functional, issues like infrequent service, aging buses, and occasional safety concerns made it more of a necessity than a comfort. Over the years, however, I've watched the system mature into something far more dependable, user-friendly, and community-oriented. One of the most noticeable improvements since the post-pandemic recovery has been the enhanced sense of safety. In the past, riding during off-peak hours could feel risky--altercations, loitering, or suspicious activity weren't uncommon. But recently, that's changed dramatically. There's now a consistent police and transit security presence, and it's become routine to see uniformed officers on buses, at stops, and in transit centers. This isn't about over-policing; it's about creating a safer environment for riders of all backgrounds. The visible security presence acts as both a deterrent and a reassurance, making the experience more comfortable, especially for vulnerable populations like students, seniors, and late-night commuters. Beyond safety, Metro Transit stands out for its impressive coverage. Unlike many regional systems that primarily serve downtown cores, Metro Transit extends its reach deep into the suburbs. Whether you're commuting from Apple Valley, Eagan, Plymouth, or even farther out, there are reliable bus routes--or bus rapid transit options like the METRO lines--that connect seamlessly to downtown Minneapolis or Saint Paul. This kind of accessibility is rare in American public transit and reflects a genuine commitment to inclusivity and regional integration. The fleet itself has modernized, too. With newer, low-emission buses, better real-time tracking via apps, and expanded routes like the METRO Orange and planned Gold Lines, the system feels increasingly forward-thinking. Fare payment methods have also improved, with the option to use mobile apps or contactless cards--small but meaningful upgrades that streamline the rider experience. Of course, there's always room for growth--increased frequency during off-peak hours, expanded weekend service, and further integration with surrounding suburbs would make the system even stronger. But compared to many other U.S. cities, Metro Transit is ahead of the curve. In conclusion, Metro Transit has transformed from a basic necessity into a model of what regional public transportation can and should be. It's safe, expansive, evolving, and increasingly reliable. For a system that serves such a diverse and geographically spread population, it's an achievement worth recognizing. Five stars well earned--for going in the right direction, and for getting more of us there safely and efficiently. read more

Metro Transit - Public Transportation Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Today ( a Saturday midday) I had a great experience traveling the 6U from Fairview Southdale hospital in Edina to the U of MN for a gopher game and also returned just before the game ended. Uber and Lift would have been $30 or so each way. Let's use our transit system. read more

Great convenient inexpensive way to get around Minneapolis & St. Paul. Two lines; Green Line goes all the way to St.Paul and the Blue Line goes all the way to Mall of America. Both have many stops along the way including the VA Hospital, Fisher House etc... Hot day today but nice and cold riding the Metro! If you are staying downtown, the Blue line train conveniently goes directly to the mall as it's the end of the line so you won't get off at the wrong stop. Trains run practically every 5-10 minutes all day long until midnight. Train fare for an all day 24 hour pass is only $4.50 and can be used til midnight! Train tickets can be purchased at any train stop via cash or card. It's on the honor system and there is no train operator coming around checking. read more

Metro Transit - Public Transportation Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I pray for those who rely on Metro transit to get to where they need to be. I am thankful enough to be able to drive after almost 3 years relying on public transit. I can write a book on the things I saw and experienced riding the light rail and buses. Starting with the light rail, the trains are usually crowded and stuffed. There could be a smell of urine, weed, or BO. They dont clean these trains. The security is a joke. Fights and other commotion is a daily occurence on the light rail. Especially the green line. The buses is no different. Especially that C or D line. Shady homeless people at the bus or train stations who will harass u maybe even assault you. Those trains are portable homeless shelters. Ive seen women get harassed on these buses and trains. Bus drivers be having an attitude. Sometimes the buses dont even come on schedule and arrive late. You gambling with your job relying on these buses. Minnesota has the worst transit system in the country. Be careful if you rely on public transit in this state read more

I am writing this because of how terrible your services are. On 5/27/2026 I had an interview at the Ridgedale mall at 5:30pm and went out to bus stop# 8153 to wait for bus 645E that had an arrival time of 4:44pm and I got out there at 4:30pm. After waiting till 4:52 I decided I would call to see where the bus was at and spoke with laura who put me on hold to figure it out. While I waited on hold for minutes on the phone she proceeded to transfer it to a line that no one would answer and ended the call by itself. I then called back and spoke with another gal who told me she would figure it out and put me on hold again for another how long and came back to tell me the bus was broke down in downtown minneapolis. I don't understand why there is any bus breaking down when you guys should be keeping up on your maintainence on the busses. She then told me another bus would be coming but wouldn't be there till 5:39pm because they are running late. I am constantly missing the bus or late to where I am going because the drivers are always coming super early or super late never on time. Stop hiring Somali drivers that don't know how to fuckin drive just to save a buck. I shouldn't have to feel unsafe on the bus and flying around in my seat wondering whether I am going to make it to my destination safely. The bus crash in St. Paul is a prime example of how your drivers are driving on a regular bases jumping curbs and slamming on brakes. Get your shit together! People rely on your services to get to work and important things just a reminder in case you forgot. I also missed my job opportunity because of this because they are super strict on being on time so thanks. read more

I understand transit agents doing their job and checking tickets. My problem is not showing compassion towards people that are homeless. Many organizations are not giving bus cards or tokens anymore to the homeless. So they have to be able to get around. Even when a person is obviously homeless, I've seen and experienced myself , the transit agents harassing them for a ticket. That's not ok. There's needs to be a change to how they deal with individuals who are homeless and have no money to pay. read more

As tourists in Minneapolis for a week, we rode the Metro about half a dozen times. We rode it from the Nicollet Mall station (closest to our hotel) to the airport, to Minnehaha Park (50th St station), to the Weisman Art Museum, to St. Paul and from Mall of America to our hotel. Except for near Mall of America, I didn't notice other tourists using it. I also didn't see any business professionals/commuters, which were red flags. My husband wasn't keen on using it, but I persuaded him as a more economical alternative to ride shares here and there. The concept is great and it's pretty easy to use, but a lot of the people that use it are somewhat sketchy and some of the stations smell like urine. We watched YouTube videos beforehand so we'd have some clue as to how to use it and we downloaded the app. You can pay on the app or at the station. The experience was overall slightly nerve-racking. For example, on one ride while stopped at a station, two men were having a 'to-do' with raised voices and body contact. I noticed one was carrying a knife sheath on his belt. One of them finally exited the train and went over to console with a homeless looking guy lying on a station bench before the train took off again. Another time, a woman near us was having a LOUD, aggressive cell phone conversation, dropping constant 'F-bombs'. She and her partner exited the train when a conductor came on board checking tickets. Obviously they didn't have a ticket and were free-loading. I wondered how many other people did that as our tickets were only checked one time during our half dozen rides and there didn't seem to be any consequence for not paying except exiting the train and then probably boarding the next one, hoping for the absence of a conductor. Signs on the trains that requested that seats not be used as a foot rest were clearly ignored by riders, which obviously did not make sitting on the seats appealing. The trains seem to come about every 5-15 minutes. There were route maps above some of the seats, but they were somewhat small for my aging eyes. Conceptually, a wonderful system, but due to the fact there are many 'undesirables' that ride it, the metro isn't used to it's full capacity and feels slightly daunting. I'm sure most locals and professionals drive themselves. What a shame. When we told the woman in the local information office about our experience, she seemed surprised. She probably hasn't ridden it in years. read more

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Awful-unreliable. The biggest problem is that drivers will not stop at bus stops. More times than I can count mey y o transit has just driven past me at a bus stop. Leaving me to wait 30 minutes in the freezing cold for the next bus. Metro transit busses are rarely on time. I am often late to work even when I try to catch a bus 30 minutes early just to arrive 5 minutes late to work. read more

My husband was assaulted while riding the light rail to work in downtown Minneapolis! There are constantly homeless people that are allowed on the train and people begging for money and being aggressive. This is personal when a member of your family is attacked just going to work because the person wanted his phone and money. I do not feel safe with my husband riding the blue line and I am scared for him all the time. read more

The line between panhandling and stalking has been crossed when a guy complains that I put $5 in the machine for a $4 pass therefore I should give him the remaining $1. I don't expect glamorous mass transit in this car-addicted nation, but Metro is as disgusting as it gets. I've been at Newark Penn Station at 2AM and ridden on plenty of smelly LA buses. And I despise Metro. No, society's problems aren't this agency's fault, but they are to blame for the difficulty of buying multi-day passes, one of which would have been prevented my daily trips to the machines (hassled both times but at least the first dude took no for an answer). On the Green Line, I wasn't sure if the guy who yelled "fuck you man" to a passerby actually wanted to fight someone or just wanted attention. There was smoking on the train both ways, but the return trip was nicer despite the abundant garbage on the floor since at least no one was as specifically aggressive this time. When I get home I'm going to hug a PATH turnstile. Keep building stadiums Minnesota! You're doing awesome! And when people avoid your sketchy transit just build more parking lots! read more

Trains have clean seats unlike many of the trains I've ridden around the world with huge clean windows that are free of graffiti. Also a great value at $2 a full fare ride. The ride itself is smooth and quiet. So, I was hoping for too much. But stay away from US bank station as it's so stinky . Like in so many cities now this metro has the same issues with fare evaders, transients, solicitors, traders that it makes the ride a bit unnerving. Definitely has quite a bit of potential like you would see in Asia but still has a way to go before I try this one again. read more

The bus system is super easy and convenient, especially when you have the reduced fare tap card. The bus is always on time or a minute early. Certain busses don't run on Sunday, so make sure you check the metro transit planner accordingly. I just started riding the bus a few days ago due to losing my license, and ive been so scared and I have no idea why i was scared, it was super easy. The light rail however, is a different story and I won't step foot on it until they combat the drug use and exposing of body parts. read more

Dead mouse on a bus. The ride heading toward St Paul was great until I looked down and saw a dead mouse. Do you clean your bus at night? The bus driver was great, customers riding nice. Dead mouse? Really? Then I road the light rail. It smelled like urine. A "high" person digging through every seat looking for money. Pants down. IDK. I didn't feel safe. There was garbage everywhere on the stops. This is very different from pre covid times. I have my car back, and I feel thankful. I feel bad for law-abiding individuals w/o a car that is stuck with this option for transportation. read more

My recent experience in the last few days has convinced me that this system is only for the homeless or extremely desperate. If you contact MTC here in the metro at: 612.373.3333, they will pick up in short order. If you would like to phone in a formal complaint, however, take a shittin' number! I do not waste an inordinate amount of time with their website, preferring to post instead on Yelp, a trusted friend in the internet business and a site that, thanks to all our dedicated posters, is one of the few you can trust these days. One of my recent experiences, Tuesday, 4 Aug 2023, has to be with operator number 74326. Traveling west-bound on the 21, this sorry excuse for an employee had the audacity, after asking him what happened to the previous two buses that failed to come on time (apparently, the one behind him was supposed to be in front) and why he was at least five minutes late, insisted that I pay the one dollar stored on my TAP card for a fare. I keep seeing "bus not in service--operator training". Gee, I wonder why? The light rail cars have switched to plastic chairs. Oh! how comfy! The Northstar Line has reduced service to a mere sustainable level. This "company" needs to get it's act together or get out of town. read more

After taking Metro Transit buses for a month, I understand why people drive to work. One day, the bus is 20 minutes late. The next day, it is 5 minutes early and I miss the bus and I'm late for work. This happens ALL THE TIME. I have no complaint about the safety or sanitation of the buses, but I can't keep putting up with being late to work because of Metro Transit. I reached out to them to provide feedback, and they have ignored me. read more

As someone who was formally unhoused, I know how reliable and life saving metro transit can be. I rode the blue line for the first time in forever today and the cleanliness, safety and kindness is an example of how change can positively affect someone's life. In three years, this is a monumental difference. Thank you for your continue service read more

My friend Ro is pretty cool. Have you met Ro? This is one of the few bus services that I actually relied on once in my life because I was stupid enough to come to Minneapolis without a car a very long time ago - so I take the bus at about lunch time up to the village of Hilltop and back and then a couple other buses to other locations in the area over subsequent days. And I like it because I'm a kid and it's exciting. But yeah. It wasn't great. They're not awful and they're not great. Nowhere near as nice as the buses in England though. They are a bit neglected, and I guess when buses have to run to through this much incredible snow and Siberian temperatures then you're glad that they just exist and and they don't break down. read more

Metro Transit - This metro is sexual - Public Transportation Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The most wonderful, kind, and thoughtful staff. I was really impressed both times I visited. Very helpful and protective of seniors. It's rare that you see people who are so committed to public service. And, I know jobs like that are rarely highly compensated or recognized, but that effort is priceless and makes the world a better place. read more

Metro Transit is the chief public transportation system in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Run by the Metropolitan Council this system includes a vast bus network and two commuter rail lines. They are the Blue and Green Lines. Both the Blue and Green Line originate at Target Field Station and share the Downtown stations including Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue, Nicollet Mall, and US Bank Stadium. South of US Bank Stadium the Blue Line continues south towards The Mall of America and the Green Line continues east towards St. Paul. My sole experience as a rider was on the Blue Line from The Warehouse District/Hennipen Avenue Station to the Mall of America. From this point forward my review is broken down to the "Cheers (plusses)" and "Jeers (minuses) " of the Blue Line. The Cheers (plusses). The thing that the Blue Line does best is bringing riders close to the downtown Minneapolis attractions. The train stops by the doorstep of three professional sports stadia: Target Field, US Bank Stadium, and Target Center. The train tracks run through the heart of downtown connecting people to hotels, offices, restaurants, and shops. Miles south of downtown it serves the airport with two underground stations. Ultimately the Blue Line concludes at the Mall of America which is currently America's Largest Mall. The fare is very reasonable. $2 less than a cup of Starbucks coffee brought me a ticket from downtown to the Mall of America. That same fare is $1 for seniors. From an urban planning perspective the trains added another demension to the Downtown. It is a neat sight seeing trains riding in the shadows of skyscrapers. Another cheer is that the train is a stress saver during rush hour. I'd rather be on a train than loosing my mind stuck in traffic on the freeway. The Jeers (Minnuses) My biggest jeer was safety. I brought up the safety issue on my review of the Warehouse District/Hennipen Avenue Station. Throughout the system there is too much automation and insufficient security. To support this minus, I will compare it to the Las Vegas Monorail which has a perception of being safe. Although the Las Vegas Monorail has many faults, the Metro could learn a few things from it. First off the Las Vegas Monorail has a live agent at the counter plus kiosks. This agent is a set of eyes. To proceed through the turnstile you need to place your ticket in the slot to proceed through. At the platform it is common to see security. In contrast on the Metro there is no gate or live person which makes it easy for people up to no good to loiter at the station or get on the train. This perception of safety was a major reason why we rode Uber from the Mall of America to downtown after dark. A far less serious jeer is that the stations are too close together. It seemed that the distance from the Warehouse Station to Target Station or Nicollet Station was the equivalent of a couple train lengths. This adds to the travel time. What if the Metropolitan Council combined two of them into a gorgeous full-service station? Final Words. Based on my cheers and jeers I give it 3 stars. If I return to downtown, my intra downtown trips would most likely be by the skyway system. If I was traveling at night I'd use Uber or Lyft. If I lived and worked in Minneapolis by the rail line my likeliest chance of riding it would be in the day, most likely during rush hour. read more

they are a joke. I am disabled with 2 inches of bone missing in my leg and they expect me to get charged $10 ATM fee to pull a dollar for my ride and they would not give me a ride and I had to walk several miles because they would not give me a ride and again I am disabled and they give people that are not disabled rides all the time, such BS and I'm going to leave this review all over the web how they disgrace disabled people And they get people that are not disabled ride for free all the time and I pay my way all the time and the one time I'm on my way to an ATM so I don't get charged five dollar ATM fee from their ATM and from my bank to get money they won't give me a ride over a dollar what a joke if that isn't disgrace I don't know what it is that Bus 686 off American Boulevard in Bloomington forget the transit get rid of them. They're worthless bastards anyway picking shoes who they want to give a ride and they don't even give a disabled person a ride get rid of the bus drivers don't need them, I have two inches bone missing out of my leg. And I have to walk walk everybody should walk read more

Bus driver thus morning was being rude claiming I didn't pay even though I did on the app, saying he's going to get me kicked off and call the police and this man is black. Then he let's this little white boy on the bus for free. Now how the fuck does that make sense, it doesn't!! read more

Metro Transit - The bus number with the rude and the little boy who did pay! - Public Transportation Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Here we go again. We see the disgruntled OTR individuals who have to give this system one or two stars based on one or two ingredients that soured them, much as if they're one issue voters. How can one not look at Metro Transit of the Twin Cities holistically? Metro Transit's biggest selling point is its wishbone shaped routing that covers a lot of ground and important locales in the Twin Cities metro area. In that way, there's a lot to like. Mostly, I am referring to the blue and green lines of their light rail system. Metro Rail's two lines overlap as they go through downtown Minneapolis, analogous to forming the base of a wishbone, or a "Y." After servicing places such as Nicolett Mall, the Hennepin County government hub, and the U.S. Bank stadium, they branch off. The green line crosses the Mississippi - it originates in this state - and services the massive University of Minnesota campus, neighborhoods along University Avenue in St. Paul, the state government office area, and downtown St. Paul, with its terminus at grandiose Union Station. It's mostly a St. Paul train line. On the other hand, the blue line might be more relevant to visitors and businesspeople and stays on the Minneapolis (and Bloomington) side of the river. First and foremost, it connects the metro area to MSP airport, with stations at each of its two terminals, in addition to various large park and ride lots at key points, Minnehaha Falls, and the simultaneously kitsch and awe inspiring Mall of America (MOA). MOA, and its business edge city, is its southern terminus. Metro Transit's light rail rolling stock is clean and modern enough. There are areas for folks with bicycles and accessibility concerns. And, as one can imagine, there will be some rambunctious riders on board. The fare is fair. The standard peak fare of $2.50 gets you two and a half hours of use, including transfers. That's good. And, the off peak fare is even lower ... around $ 2, if I recall. However, if you are not a resident using it for commuting, that two and a half hour time frame can be a pain to work around. Assuming that your destination requires a train and a bus in each direction, that will have you watching the clock as to how much time you can spend at your destination. You will not have enough time to visit a museum, take a tour of a venue, or eat a meal at a relaxed pace. After arriving at MSP, I went to the light rail station and was fumbling around looking for a day pass on the vending machine. I couldn't find it. I called the customer service line ... the wait was minimal. However, I was informed that, because of the demand for this type of fare, it was no longer being offered. That's ridiculous and goes against the metrics of Nordic efficiency! And I didn't feel like looking around for a Cub Foods supermarket to get a fare card to load up. At 3 tickets over the course of a day, a person has exceeded what a day pass used to cost. And it's not even about money. At the old amount (~ $6.50), you can let the visitor or day pass user relax, keep them from glancing at the clock, and offer them the convenience of knowing their pass is good for a day of ridership. Not only that, there are extra, unused buttons on the ticket machines. It's but a programming issue of sorts to bring back such a fare. The bus system is fairly good, though frequencies are far less if traveling to the suburbs. Also, the buses don't run late enough. There is not much in the way of "Minnesota nice" displayed by some of the drivers, such as suggesting where you might get off and whatnot, but maybe that's a function of having to drive Metro's buses in inclement weather for months. Overall, Metro Transit is a well thought out system and a person could do all their moving around, meaning seeing the key places, by using it. However, the lack of a day pass, which most cities with both heavy rail and light rail systems have, and some of the bus routes, scheduling, and drivers' attitudes take away from what it can be. Even though you can see the statue of Mary Tyler Moore some two blocks from the key Nicolett Mall transit station, that's not enough for Metro Transit to earn back a (brownie) point. read more

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took a C Line bus today and the inside of it was FILTHY! I'm talking the back looked like someone opened a bag of wet mud and just started whipping it around. the windows were caked it dust/dirt. beer can wedged in the seat. chicken bones on the floor. seats were saturated in who knows what type of dried up liquid/gunk. very very uncomfortable and unsanitary! read more

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This.... is a rare terrific "happy" story which had a 90% chance of bombing. Thanks to the great good folk here in Minnesota. I am a hard core skeptical former New Yorker and Bostonite, here in the Twin cities now for 19 short years. I NEVER expected this. NCAA Super packed Saturday i went solo via bus and train to Vikings stadium for " the smell of the greasepaint and roar of the crowd" total experience. It was GREAT , beautiful day, and lots of good hearty walking. But returning to the Vikings Stadium train stop i was told no boarding wd be allowed ( security), so had to huff back to Nicollete !! At this stop i quickly jumped on fast not realizing it was the wrong train ( only my second time on metro transit). Wwwaaaayyyy out i realized this and jumped up, grabbed my things and ran for the returning train only to suddenly realize i had left my small handbag on my train seat!!! So i went back to the original train stop and called the metro police who told me to go to Mall of America ( last stop). Got there and was told if folk find the bag, some have turned it in to the train driver who then ( by regulation) returns it to main headquarters of Metro Transit in minneapolis ( lost and found) open only monday-friday. My keys.... my beloved now paid for iphone 7 plus JUST replaced by Apple before warrantee ended... my wallet..... never has this ever happened to me. Went to Tmobile to activate an old spare phone and they agreed, " it's G O N E....." Monday finally came and i drove slowly sadly over to Lost and Found. ... it WAS THERE!!! Thank you thank you whomever you are!!! ..... only in Minnesota.... so glad i live here. read more

I really enjoy the buses here. The buses are much nicer than the Chicago CTA buses and even more luxurious than the suburban PACE buses. I've never taken any of the express buses, strictly (0-99) city buses throughout my vacation here. First and foremost; the buses are clean even the outside is! The drivers are very friendly and are generally excited and happy to transport you. Like, you can't expect the buses to move faster because of variables like traffic and a bunch of people getting off/on at every stop on the fixed route, that's just life taking the bus which people don't understand. I reccomend using the "transit" app ! Don't use any other kind of transportation app because they're not as accurate as that. A cool concept the train has that Chicago doesn't is that it changes its fares throughout the day to accommodate with peak traffic which isn't bad. Some negatives though is that, if you're vacationing and you don't know the bus routes. For example if you see a bus that says 21 it will be followed by 1 of 4 letters after the number (ACDE) each letter after wards is supposed to tell you how far a certain bus is going. If I'm at Midtown Global Market and I want to go to St. Paul I strictly have to take the 21A bus. Any other bus, I will have to stop and take another bus to come by because they will stop short before your destination . Other things I would say to be careful about is when you get a day pass. (the paper kind) when you scan it there's a possibility the bus machine might end up eating your card. Thankfully when this happened with us the bus driver gave us a new one which was awesome. read more

A lot has changed since 2020. The train from Mall of America to downtown and back. We rode the blue line 7 PM to downtown and 11 PM back. The train was dirty. Less then 50% wore the required mask and 10 % smoked on the train. On our ride back we gave up at the airport and grabbed a taxi. The ride was way too unsafe. No one at anytime monitored the train, no one collected tickets, no one assured safety for the riders. No one allowed the down to close as it should and all that could be done is the repeated request for people to let it close On our way back trouble was 4 times worse then our 7 PM ride. Everyone was smoking. Cigarettes were being passed around. One rider had a needle hanging out of his mouth. One had an infection with swelling from a bad needle in his hand. Two people were diving behind seats taking drugs by mouth and needle. All were acting unsteady and out of control There was no safety button or call to be made. Lots of prayer and jump off at the nearest safe station Save yourself don't ride!! read more

Very disappointed in state fair transportation today. Buses at MOA didn't start until 9am. We waited 1 hour and 50 minutes to board and we were there early. Service from south suburbs is poor. read more

I just wish there would be more security present on the train. it would give me a bit more comfort when riding past some of the stops

This lady is rude and doesn't know when to let a conversation go. Honestly the 106 and 230 are trash routes. Drivers are cranky and lack driving skill. Why would you pick up passengers if your just going on a brake. Absolute garbage service even before the pandemic. If a driver is going to take a break then they need to do so with out picking up more riders and providing a false since that they are on their way to their connections, read more

Metro Transit - This lady is rude and doesn't know when to let a conversation go. Honestly the 106 and 230 are trash routes. - Public Transportation Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Metro Transit is a great way to travel between the airport and downtown. $1.00 for a senior each way can't be beat. Clean, on time and without a hassle is the best way to travel. It's a bit of a walk at the airport but well worth it. Highly recommended. read more

Not sure why the rating is so low, the bus system here is pretty straightforward and extensive. They also offer free rides on the more drunken holidays which is awesome. The bus has saved my butt a few times when I have been unable to drive. Sure like 30 percent of the bus drivers are crabby, but honestly I don't blame them with some of the characters that appear (shout out to the 3A at 11pm). Saying 'thank you' to the driver goes a long way too you guys! read more

If this review were solely for the light rail, it would probably be 4 stars. If it were for solely for the buses it would waver somewhere between 2 and 3. I'll admit, I'm spoiled. I live in a city with a great public transit system, so I guess it's not terribly surprising that MSP's fell short with us. I'll break it down for you- Pros: *Clean buses and trains *Friendly, patient drivers - even when being screamed at undeservedly *Reasonable fares - $1.75 normal, $2.25 rush hour *Light rail is awesome Cons: *Rarely on time - we were waiting, walking constantly looking over our shoulder or chasing buses more than I'd like. *Not all stops listed on NexTrip - makes it difficult for tourists to figure out which one to pick *Not enough places to buy passes *Confusing letter system - what gives on the letters accompanying some route #'s *Poor signage - we saw many stops without route numbers indicating what stopped there and many others with supplemental signs reading "Buses Stop Here" #FAIL Bottom line: I'm glad it's there, I just wish it was better read more

Lots of hate for the Minneapolis Metro Transit system from previous reviewers, one of whom apparently confused it with the King County Metro Transit system and gave it 1 star. Oops. The caveat with my review is that I used the Metro for only 5 days during a visit to Minneapolis, and at that I used it only four or five times because everything was so close. I typically walked where I wanted to go. The Light Rail from the airport to downtown was convenient, easy to use and quick. The Light Rail has two lines, the blue and green, which share a couple spots so you can get off and switch lines. Blue goes to the airport from downtown, green goes to St. Paul. You can't get on the green line from the two airport stops (one at each terminal). I took the bus twice. It was swift and efficient the first time and grossly late the second time, which made me actually walk to a separate bus stop for a different line, and that was late too. It was a weekend, so it was not crowded at all. I don't know if the buses run less frequently on weekends than what it says on Google maps and the Metro app, but the first bus was more than 15 minutes late. I bought a weekly unlimited pass, which was economical just for the money it would have cost to take an Uber or cab to and from the airport. Throw in a couple bus rides and it paid for itself. The buses and Light Rail were very clean, and I encountered none of the hooliganism described below by other reviewers. Again, my caveat is that I didn't ride a bunch of lines or a bunch of different times and I didn't rely on the bus or Metro for commuter purposes. I would imagine if you rode it every day for work you'd find kinks in the system, just like you would most other public transit operators. But I was a fan of this one for its ease of use and simplicity in terms of getting a card, figuring out how to pay for everything and its clear, direct paths between major destinations. In retrospect I would have liked to taken the Metro to St. Paul and gone other places that would have given me a greater perspective on how it compares to that of other cities. read more

When I visited Minneapolis in 2021, scheduled buses consistently failed to arrive. Drivers are generally indifferent to this. This is why Metro is losing professionals as riders. read more

Well, it's better than public transportation in Los Angeles. That's not saying much though. Oh, where do I start? The good: 1.The buses are actually pretty clean. I know another reviewer said they have seen roaches on the bus but I've never seen anything like that (thank goodness). There may be an occasional transfer thrown on the floor but I don't see a lot of trash or other debris. 2.Most drivers are pretty friendly but they do run the gamut. I've had some that were extremely pleasant and helpful and some who looked like they wanted to kill me when I greeted them as I boarded. 3. The light rail is great. I hope they keep expanding it so there is more than one line through the city of Minneapolis. It does have lots of useful stops downtown and it's really convenient for taking to Twins games. 4. The customer service reps on their telephone line are very nice and helpful. 5. Buses on Hennepin, Lake St. and Nicollet run pretty frequently. 6. The change in transfer policy is the best. Now your transfer gives you 2 1/2 hours of rides on any route. The old transfers would only let you transfer going certain directions and were confusing as hell at times. 7. It's pretty cheap. Unlimited rides for 2 and a half hours for $1.75, $2.25 during rush times. The not so good: 1. Most of the buses that take you to these frequent routes don't run very often. I live in the city and the one bus I can take to get downtown or a main artery only comes every 20 minutes at its most frequent. 2. Their timing. I don't even mind buses being late, I know stuff happens. It's when they are early that they are their most maddening. I walk 2 blocks to my bus stop and I can see the street the bus goes down the entire way so I always watch to see if I miss it since I'll go back home and wait for the next one. The other morning I left home about 6-8 min. before the bus was scheduled to show up. Walked to the stop, never saw one go by. I stood at the bus stop for 2o minutes and one never came. It was a Saturday so they were running less than every 20 minutes. So the one I missed must have been about 10 minutes early. Not convenient. 3. They really need a better system for announcing the next stop. Right now the drivers are supposed to be announcing each stop. Some are great, some you can't hear or understand, and some just don't bother at all. Lots of other cities have it on the scroll at the front of the bus that lists stuff like current time and stop requested. That should be an easy addition to make. ***Edit 5/28/15*** Just wanted to add that some of their busses now how an automatic announcement system that tells you the next stop and what routes you can transfer to at that stop if applicable, and announces the bus number and destination when it picks up at each stop. So far I've seen it on route 21 on Lake St. I think it's a very helpful addition and I hope they continue to implement this on all their city routes. read more

We were in town for a hockey game and very much showed our tourist side by wearing our home team colors. The lite rail was perfect for going from the airport to 2 blocks from our hotel. It took us a few blocks from the arena and down to the Mall of America. For the $20 for the both of us for 3 days, you can't beat the price. Some of the cars were clean, others not so much. Lots of homeless and drug addicts riding. Going from the arena in St Paul back to our motel in downtown Minneapolis got a bit crazy with lots of young kids and druggies. We have to give a shout out to The Brotherhood of Empowerment ( I believe that's what they were called). They took control of the car we were in and kept checking to see if we were ok. Just another night in Vegas for us. After all the commotion was righted we enjoyed a nice talk with all of them. I would recommend taking the rail but not sure about night time or going through St Paul. read more

Express bus service is totally worthless on 764 route. You never know if it will show or not and they don't care because we all have prepaid cards and/or corporate sponsorship. They get paid regardless while we miss work, appointments, etc. So much for trying to be green. read more

In late April and early May,I had the misfortune of riding the Blue Line Light Rail from downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America in the evening hours..Numerous people were sneaking on the train without paying for their rides.These people were harrassing paying customers,smoking on the train,lighting matches on the train,and using loud,vulgar language.There was very little,if any security in the train cars or at most of the stations.Blue Line Stations that were especially unruly and dangerous were Franklin Avenue Station and Lake Street.Station.The Minneapolis Police Department needs to address this issue and prosecute the people who disrupt the Blue Line trains.The good citizens of Minneapolis need to support their police department for a change.Minneapolis is a very special city,this is a disgrace. read more

I am arriving at Minneapolis airport and am worried about connecting bus/train at 11 pm at night. I want to take public transit (but #54) which only costs $2 and will take me right to St. Paul Hotel, downtown St Paul. So I called their phone line. Wouldn't you believe somebody answered immediately and thoroughly and patiently answered all my questions. I called later for another question because the internet is inundated with inaccurate information. The second phone is equally pleasant. I am very pleased with their phone service... unbelievable nice and convenient. Keep up the good job. read more

YAY for public transit!!! I actually met someone last week who envied me because I take the bus to and from work. I was like "girl, get on that...literally!" The most convenient, cost-efficient, and time-saving mode of transit when you are going downtown. There are so many route options that you can get anywhere in the cities; the drivers are friendly (especially Greg who greets me every morning and every evening on the express 854 bus); it only takes me 20 minutes to get to and from work and I just wave to the cars stuck in rush hour traffic as I whizz past on the shoulder; it saves me a load of money not having to pay for gas, a car payment, insurance, oil, repairs, and all the other car-suck items; and it is so much better for the environment. Once you start riding on a regular basis, you'll also develop a new set of pals. I feel like I have my home crowd, my work crowd, and my bus crowd because as the habitual human beings we are I'm comforted to see the regs ride the bus with me. So if you are like the girl I met last week, definitely get your butt on the bus and you'll be convinced that it is the way to go! Don't know which route suits you best, go to their website and they'll show you the routes for your trip under schedule planner. Oh, and no high parking fees...another HUGE plus:) Save a horse...ride the BUS! read more