Transit Link (Dial-A-Ride)

As part of the Metropolitan Council's restructuring of community-based dial-a-ride transit services throughout the metropolitan area, Transit Link replaced Hop-A-Ride services in Hopkins on March 1, 2010.

Transit Link logoTransit Link is dial-a-ride minibus
or van service for the general public that must be reserved in advance. Transit Link service is curb-to-curb service, with limited assistance. Transit Link Service is different from Metro Mobility service—
it is available to the general public and is intended to serve areas where regular transit route service is not available. Fares will be based on the distance traveled, though groups who travel together are eligible for a discount.

Transit Link is intended to augment regular route transit service, rather than duplicate it. The Metropolitan Council's goal is to help riders reach their destinations—this may involve a combination of regular route and Transit Link. To assure Transit Link doesn't duplicate regular route service, each trip will be evaluated for eligibility. To be eligible, the trip must not be possible by regular route transit.

Who uses Transit Link?

Transit Link is different from ADA-certified service. Anyone in the general public may access Transit Link services.

Typically, ADA-certified riders require additional assistance, due to physical, cognitive, or psychological limitations. Customers who need assistance or are unable to get themselves to a regular route or Transit Link bus may qualify for Metro Mobility service. The changes to Transit Link service have no impact on the current Metro Mobility and county ADA service.

Routine trips and standing order trips will be available. Up to 75% of all trips in a service area may be standing order trips, or trips scheduled at the same time several days in a row or every Monday, etc. In addition, regular runs to local businesses, retail areas, health care facilities, etc. may be offered at a discounted fare.

Fares for Transit Link service

Distance Fare
Trips less than 10 miles $2.25 each way
Trips between 10 and 20 miles $4.50 each way
Trips greater than 20 miles $6.75 each way

Group discounts are available and ADA-certified riders pay a maximum of $4.50 per direction. Transfers will often be free—the only times you will need to pay additional fare are when transferring from Transit Link to the Northstar Line or to peak express bus service. If the Transit Link fare is less than the fare for Northstar or express service, the passenger must pay the difference.

Operating guidelines

Hours of Service 6 am to 7 pm, weekdays
Reservation Scheduling Hours 7 am to 3:30 pm, weekdays
Advance Reservation Window Up to 5 business days in advance
Service Type Curb-to-curb with limited assistance
Pickup Window 0-30 minutes
Vehicle Wait Time 3 minutes
Advance Cancellation Window At least 1 hour prior to scheduled pick up time
Walking Distance to Regular Route Stop 1/4 mile from Nov 1 to March 31
1/2 mile from April 1 to Oct 31

Why the restructuring?

The Metropolitan Council is currently restructuring dial-a-ride services to assure it is equally available to the general public throughout the region, where regular route transit is not available. An advisory group of transit and human services officials from each of the seven metro-area counties helped establish standard operating guidelines and funding strategies.

The current patchwork system

Currently, dial-a-ride service in the metro area is a patchwork system: 17 different government and non-profit organizations provide the region's dial-a-ride services. Some services overlap with one another and with regular transit routes, while other providers are limited to providing service in a specific area, which may inhibit coordination. Still other communities have no transit option.

In many cases, local organizations created service to meet a need identified by a particular group—such as providing transportation for the local senior center or community groups. However, the Federal Transit Administration requires that publicly supported transit must serve the public broadly and equitably.

These providers have a wide range of operating guidelines. For example, weekday service hours fall with the 6 am to 7 pm timeframe recommended by the Council, though they vary considerably. Only four providers offer weekend service. The fare structure varies from donation-based to more than $5 per one-way trip.

The restructured system

Under the restructured service, each county in the metropolitan area will coordinate service. Four counties will contract with a vendor for service and those contracts will be managed by the Metropolitan Council. Anoka County and Carver/Scott counties will operate their own Dial-A-Ride service, using the operating parameters established for the whole region.

Riders will be able to call one phone number region-wide and be directed to the appropriate customer service representatives for each county. In addition, riders will be able to use the Metro Transit scheduling/trip planning resources to better coordinate with regular route transit.

Local communities may provide service beyond these guidelines—such as providing weekend service—by using local funds to support the activities.

Downloads

Contacts

How to ride

To reserve a ride, call 651-602-LINK (5465). Tell the reservationists your destination, and staff will help you determine whether your trip is eligible for Transit Link or if you have regular transit route options available. Be sure to tell the staff if you are going to a scheduled appointment time.

Customer service staff will also help you through the process of riding Transit Link and regular transit buses. Transit Link is a shared ride, and other riders may be picked up and dropped off along the way.

The bus will arrive within 30 minutes of the pickup time. If your pickup time is 1 pm, the bus will arrive sometime between 1 and 1:30 pm. Be ready to board when the bus arrives.

Need to cancel a ride? Call Transit Link at least one hour before your scheduled pickup time.