State Fair Express Bus Service Returns to Maple Grove
We’re one month away from the start of the Minnesota State Fair, and for the first time in five years, fair-goers will have an express bus option in the northwest metro.
Maple Grove Transit will provide bus service to “The Great Minnesota Get-Together” at its main transit station next to the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes.
“The Maple Grove site has always been a popular express bus site to the state fair with almost 30,000 rides in 2019,” said Mike Opatz, Maple Grove’s transit administrator. “We have heard from many that they would like to see it return, so we are very pleased and excited to offer the service again. It will be welcomed back enthusiastically.”
Express buses to the fairground will run every 30 minutes from 8 a.m. to midnight on weekends and Labor Day. The cost to ride is $5 if you buy tickets beforehand. Customers paying in cash will have to pay $6.
Fair-goers can hop on a State Fair Express Bus at the Maple Grove Transit Station, located at 12350 Main Street. The bus service is only available on weekends and Labor Day.
More drivers hired
A shortage of drivers forced Metro Transit to scale back its service options after COVID. But as hiring has picked up, those routes are finally returning.
“We’ve hired more operators,” said Metro Transit Spokesperson Drew Kerr. “We have, now this year alone, hired more than 200 bus operators. And so when we have more people, we can provide more service.”
Weekday service to the fair will not be available in the northwest metro, but there are five other park and ride sites that will serve people all 12 days of the fair.
Those other park & rides are located in Blaine, Bloomington, Cottage Grove, Maplewood (new in 2024) and Minnetonka.
Related: After COVID Slowdown, Fewer State Fair Bus Options for Northwest Metro Riders
