Modernizing Rural Transit:Arrowhead Transit's RideSmart 2025 Overhaul
Snapshots from the Arrowhead Transit RideSmart 2025 Launch
This summer, Arrowhead Transit officially launched RideSmart 2025, a sweeping redesign of public transportation in Minnesota's Chisago and Isanti counties. Built on extensive community input, the overhaul introduces more reliable loop routes with timed transfers, expanded commuter service, and refined Dial-a-Ride boundaries to improve access. The effort is aimed at making it easier for riders to reach jobs, schools, healthcare, and other essential destinations across the region.
At the June 2 launch event, business and community member came together at Arrowhead Transit's Cambridge transit office. Project managers and county officials shared the changes, including new digital tools to help riders check bus arrival times, receive service alerts, and eventually book trips or pay fares through an app. For the agency, the launch offers a model for how rural transit systems can innovate to better serve their communities.
Arrowhead Transit's route changes ensure that key inner-city destinations remain within reach for riders, especially seniors and people with disabilities, across the region
Photo: Arrowhead Transit
Arrowhead Transit's recent work resulted in RideSmart 2025, a sweeping overhaul for improving reliability, access, and the rider experience for rural users in two Minnesota counties.
Photo: Arrowhead Transit
The RideSmart 2025 launch event was held at Arrowhead Transit's Cambridge transit office on June 2, 2025.
Photo: Arrowhead Transit
At the launch event, North Branch Area Chamber of Commerce Part-Time Executive Director Melissa Collins (right) and Director Clint Link (left) noted that RideSmart 2025 will enhance workforce mobility, improve customer access, and strengthen the local economy.
Photo: Arrowhead Transit
"From the very beginning, RideSmart 2025 was built around one question: What do our riders need?" said Project Manager and Assistant Director of Operations Sandra Wheelecor. "What we heard was clear — more reliability, clearer schedules, expanded service areas, and better connections to jobs, schools, and medical care."
Photo: Arrowhead Transit
With over 68,000 riders served in Chisago and Isanti counties in 2024 and a unified vision for smarter, more equitable service, RideSmart 2025 stands as a model other rural transit systems may look to emulate in the years ahead.
Photo: Arrowhead Transit
For Arrowhead Transit, RideSmart 2025 is more than just an operational upgrade. It's a blueprint for what rural transit systems can achieve when they put community voices at the center of planning.
Photo: Arrowhead Transit
Chisago County Administrator Chase Burnham spoke during the event, which touched on community feedback and strategic planning to connect more people to jobs, healthcare, and education.
Photo: Arrowhead Transit
Isanti County District 2 Commissioner Bill Berg was one of many speakers at the launch event, which revealed data from riders overwhelmingly favoring reliability over flexibility.
Photo: Arrowhead Transit
Business and community members attended Arrowhead Transit's recent RideSmart 2025 launch event and ribbon cutting.
Photo: Arrowhead Transit