Metropolitan Transportation Services
Metropolitan Transportation Services is the operator of ADA transit service and oversees contracted routes in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.
Overview
Metropolitan Transportation Services or MTS is a part of the Transportation Division of the Metropolitan Council. The other part of this division is Metro Transit. MTS is responsible for developing the transportation plan for the region and preparing the short-range capital improvement program for all projects that use federal funds. MTS operates Metro Mobility; the ADA complementary dial-a-ride service to fixed route transit lines and Transit Link, a general public dial-a-ride service available in the seven county metro area for places not service by regular transit routes. Contracted fixed route service on 42 lines is also overseen by MTS with equipment (buses) and planning provided by MTS to be operated by individual contractors.
Fleet
MTS oversees a diverse fleet of small and large buses. These buses are assigned to different operations around the Twin Cities metro area.
Contractor Fleet
The contractor fleet is assigned to independent contractors who operate fixed route transit service under contract. Current contractors include First Transit, Schmitty and Sons, and Transit Team.
Active
| Fleet Number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Passenger Seats | Contractor/Garage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1200-1205 | 2010 | Gillig | BRT 40' (G27D102N4) |
Cummins ISL9 | Voith D864.5 | 38 American Seating InSight | First Transit Minneapolis |
| |
| 1444-1449 | 2012 | Gillig | BRT 40' (G27D102N4) |
Cummins ISL9 | ZF EcoLife | 38 American Seating InSight | First Transit Minneapolis |
| |
| 1620-1634 | 2014 | Gillig | Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4) |
Cummins ISL9 | ZF EcoLife | 38 American Seating InSight | First Transit Minneapolis |
| |
| 6000 | 2012 | MCI | D4500CT | 57 | Metro Transit | ||||
| 6090-6097 | 2009 | GILLIG | Low Floor 29' (G27E102R2) |
Cummins ISL | Voith | American Seating InSight | First Transit Minneapolis | ||
| 6098-6099 | 2013 | MCI | D4500CT | Metro Transit | |||||
| 6100-6110 | 2009 | MCI | D4500CT | Metro Transit |
| ||||
| 60027-60030 | 2011 | GILLIG | Low Floor 29' (G27E102R2) |
Cummins ISL9 | American Seating InSight | First Transit |
| ||
| 60034-60035 | 2013 | MCI | D4500CT | 57 | Metro Transit East Metro Garage | ||||
| 60036-60039, 60044 | 2013 | GILLIG | Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4) |
Cummins ISL9 | 38 American Seating InSight | Metro Transit East Metro Garage | |||
| 60040-60043 | 2011 | GILLIG | Low Floor 29' (G27E102R2) |
Cummins ISL9 | American Seating InSight | First Transit Blaine | |||
| 60069-60084 | 2014 | GILLIG | Low Floor 29' (G27E102R2) |
Cummins ISL9 | Allison B400R | American Seating InSight | Split between Schmitty and Sons and First Transit |
| |
| 60101-60113 | 2016 | GILLIG | Low Floor 29' (G27E102N2) |
Cummins ISL9 | Allison B400R | American Seating InSight | Schmitty & Sons Lakeville | ||
| 60114-60119 | 
|
2016 | GILLIG | Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4) |
Cummins ISL9 | Allison B400R | American Seating KC548 | First Transit Minneapolis | |
| 60130-60158 | 2022 | Gillig | Low Floor 29' (G27E102N2) |
Cummins | Allison | 28 American Seating Insight | First Transit Minneapolis | ||
| 60200-60204 | 
|
2012 | MCI | D4500CT | Cummins ISX11.9 | 57 | First Transit | ||
| 63102 | 2013 | Ford
Glaval |
E-450
Universe |
First Transit Spring Street | |||||
| 64232-64234 | 2016 | Ford
Glaval |
E-450
Universe |
First Transit Spring Street | |||||
| 64316-64317, 64319-64320, 64322-64340 | 2018 | Ford
Glaval |
E-450
Universe |
First Transit Spring Street | |||||
| 64389 | 2019 | Ford
Elkhart |
E-450
ECII |
First Transit Spring Street |
On Order
| Fleet Number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Passenger Seats | Contractor/Garage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (4 buses) |
|
Retired
Metro Mobility
Metro Mobility operates paratransit service in the Twin Cities area. The area is divided into three territories. Service in eastern Hennepin County is provided by Transit Team, while service in southern Anoka, Ramsey, southern Washington, northern Dakota, and eastern Scott Counties is provided by First Transit.[5]
Active Fleet
The Metro Mobility division currently operates approximately 300 small cutaway style buses and 40 full size sedans.
| Fleet Number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Passenger Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | Various | Various |
Retired
| Fleet Number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Passenger Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62067 | 2012 | Ford | E-450 | 6.8L V10 SMPI |
|
TransitLink
TransitLink provides dial-a-ride service to areas of the Twin Cities not served by fixed route transit. Service started in 2010. It replaced 17 community dial-a-rides in the Twin Cities area.[6]
As of 2020, there are six service areas. The following contractors operate out of the following service areas[7]:
| Service Area | Contractor | Operation Division Location | Year First Assumed Contract | Year Contract Expires | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | Midwest Paratransit | Maple Grove | 2017[8] | Pilot Program | |
| Anoka/NW Ramsey County | First Transit | Blaine | 2015[9] | 2020 | |
| Carver/Scott County | Midwest Paratransit | Shakopee, Cologne | 2015[10] | ||
| Dakota County | First Transit | Burnsville | 2015[11] | 2020 | Amended in 2015. |
| Hennepin County | First Transit | Minneapolis | 2020[12] | 2020 | Operated by Midwest Paratransit until 2020, when they requested to be released early from their contract. |
| SE Ramsey/Washington | First Transit | Burnsville | 2015 | 2020 | Last MV operation entirely in the State of Minnesota from 2010 to 2020[6] |
Active Fleet
The TransitLink division currently operates approximately 70 small cutaway style buses.
| Fleet Number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Passenger Seats | Contractor/Garage | Contract | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64044 | 2012 | Ford
Elkhart |
E-450
Unknown |
Midwest Paratransit Shakopee | SmartLink (Carver and Scott Counties) | |||||
| 64047, 64049-64057 | 2015 | Ford
Elkhart |
E-450
ECII |
Midwest Paratransit Shakopee/Cologne | SmartLink (Carver and Scott Counties) | |||||
| 64058-64059 | 2017 | Ford
Elkhart |
E-450
ECII |
Midwest Paratransit Shakopee | SmartLink (Carver and Scott Counties) | |||||
| 64060-64062 | 2018 | Ford
Elkhart |
E-450
ECII |
Midwest Paratransit Shakopee | SmartLink (Carver and Scott Counties) | |||||
| 64063-64065 | 2019 | Ford
Elkhart |
E-450
ECII |
Midwest Paratransit Shakopee/Cologne | SmartLink (Carver and Scott Counties) | |||||
| 64214 | 2016 | Ford
Elkhart |
E-450
ECII |
First Transit Blaine | Hennepin County | |||||
| 64287-64303 | 2015 | Ford
Elkhart |
E-450
ECII |
First Transit Blaine/Burnsville | Hennepin/Washington/Dakota County | |||||
| 64304-64310 | 2015 | Ford
Glaval |
E-450
Universe |
5.4L V8 | 12 | MV Transportation, 2015-September 2020
First Transit Burnsville, September 2020-present |
Washington County |
| ||
| 64348-64359 | 2018 | Ford
Glaval |
E-450
Universal |
First Transit Blaine | Anoka County | |||||
| 64360-64366 | 2018 | Ford
Elkhart |
E-450
Coach ECII |
6.8L V10 | 8 | MV Transportation, 2015-September 2020
First Transit Burnsville, September 2020-present |
Washington County |
| ||
| 64367-64368, 64372-64376 | 2018 | Ford
StarTrans |
E-450
Candidate II |
First Transit Burnsville | Dakota/Washington County | |||||
| 64377-64385 | 2019 | Ford
Elkhart |
E-450
ECII |
64377-64381: First Transit Burnsville/Blaine 64382-64385: Transit Team |
64377-64381: Dakota/Hennepin County 64382-64385: Metro Transit micro |
| ||||
| 64386-64388 | 2019 | Ford
Startrans |
E-450
Candidate II |
First Transit Burnsville/Blaine | Dakota/Hennepin County |
On Order
| Fleet Number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Passenger Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (22 buses) |
|
References
- ↑ Metropolitan Council Business Item 2021-74: Authorized Contract with Gillig Corporation for 30-Foot Buses
- ↑ [https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetings/Committees/Metropolitan-Council/2021/12-8-21/1108_2021_283.aspx Metropolitan Council Business Item 2021-283: Authorize Execution of Contract Options with Gillig LLC Utilizing the State of Washington’s Gillig Bus Contract]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Metropolitan Council Business Item 2021-125: Small Bus Procurement
- ↑ www.ebay.com
- ↑ Metropolitan Council: Metro Mobility Service Zones
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 streets.mn: How I Rode Public Transit To Afton State Park
- ↑ Metropolitan Council Fleet List Washington and Dakota TransitLink Service
- ↑ Metropolitan Council Business Item 2017-116 Transit Link – Airport Pilot Contract Amendment
- ↑ Metropolitan Council Business Item 2015-123 Authorization to Award Contract for Hennepin County Transit Link
- ↑ www.midwestparatransitservices.com
- ↑ Metropolitan Council Business Item 2018-340 Transit Link – Dakota County Contract Amendment
- ↑ Metropolitan Council Business Item 2019-351 SW Hennepin County Transit Link Agreement