Minn. Valley gets ridership boost from university

Burnsville-based Minnesota Valley Transit Authority's (MVTA) ridership to the University of Minnesota grew more than 10 percent between 2009 and 2010, continuing a long-term trend where MVTA has grown this sector of its ridership by more than 60 percent during the past five years. 

"We introduced service from Cedar Grove Transit Station, adding to the family of service to the U from Apple Valley and Burnsville. New Route 475 is one example of the ways MVTA is harnessing a ridership market that, by its nature, defies the downward tug that plagues commuter-oriented express services during a period of flagging employment," said MVTA Board Chair and Dakota County Commissioner Will Branning. "We hope to keep building this University market, as many users could become life-long transit riders."

Overall, MVTA's total ridership was 2,437,933, up slightly from 2009 (0.3 percent).