Planning State Fair Trip? Northwest Suburbs Face Limited Weekday Bus Service

For the sixth consecutive year, residents in the Twin Cities northwest suburbs heading to the Minnesota State Fair will face limited options for weekday bus transit.

Metro Transit confirmed that daily express bus service to the fairgrounds will not operate from the northwest suburbs during the week.

While the Maple Grove Transit Station is among six regional sites selected for Metro Transit fair service, buses from that location will only run on weekends and Labor Day.

Capacity Constraints and Resource Limits

The restriction in Maple Grove stems from weekday capacity issues at the local parking garage, which cannot accommodate both Minnesota State Fair visitors and daily commuters taking regular express routes into downtown Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, Metro Transit cited staffing and operational limits for the lack of weekday express service in neighboring communities like Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, which has offered State Fair Express service in the past.

“I’m sure there are places that people would love us to continue to serve or come back to,” said Metro Transit spokesperson Drew Kerr. “Again, we’re providing as much service as we possibly can while making sure that the reliability of the service that we provide day-to-day does not get impacted by that.”

People can catch a State Fair Express Bus from the Maple Grove Transit Station on weekends and Labor Day.

Alternative Travel Options for Northwest Metro Transit Riders

Fair-goers in the northwest suburbs looking for weekday transit options still have a few nearby alternatives:

Nearby Express Park & Ride Lots: Suburban express buses will operate daily throughout the fair from transit stations in nearby Blaine and Minnetonka.

Local Route Connections: Commuters can drive or take local transit to Rosedale Center and board the METRO A Line, which connects directly to the fairgrounds.

Weekend Express Service: The Maple Grove Transit Station will operate express buses on Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day. A roundtrip ride will cost you $6 in cash or $5 by purchasing a ticket on the Metro Transit app. Kids age 4 and under ride free.

Related: Plymouth Dessert Shop Debuts State Fair-Inspired Macarons

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