Preview the State Fair's New Transit Hub - Photo Opportunity

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Map to Transit Hub Media Preview Event

ST. PAUL, MINN. (08/15/2014)(readMedia)-- Photo Opportunity

Date & Time:

10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19

Event Details:

Preview the new Minnesota State Fair Transit Hub. Designed to meet current and future transportation demand, the Transit Hub will provide easy, safe access to the fairgrounds beginning Thursday Aug. 21, opening day of the 2014 Minnesota State Fair. Located just north of West End Market, the Transit Hub is the new drop-off and pick-up point for one-third of fair visitors. All State Fair Express Service, charter and Metro Transit Regular Route #960 buses, as well as most Park & Ride buses will utilize the site. The goal in creating the Transit Hub is two-fold: 1) To improve safety for State Fair guests, as the busiest bus drop-off and pick-up points are moved away from crowded public roadways into a special area where visitors will depart the bus and be right at the gate; and 2) To alleviate congestion on Como Avenue by moving much of the pedestrian and bus traffic off public roadways, as all buses utilizing the Transit Hub will access it via the Transitway on the west edge of the fairgrounds.

Spokespeople, Interviews and Photo Opportunities:

Interview representatives from the State Fair Transportation Department, Lorenz Bus Service, Metro Transit, SouthWest Transit and Minnesota Valley Transit Authority about how they'll work together to transport a third of the fair's more than 1.7 million visitors to and from the new Transit Hub. Express Service Buses will be staged within the Transit Hub to illustrate how drop-off and pick-up operations work at the new site.

Location:

Minnesota State Fairgrounds – Transit Hub at Gate 16

With the fairgrounds currently being closed to the public, media must enter the fairgrounds at the intersection of Hoyt & Snelling Avenues and proceed west on Hoyt Avenue to the security checkpoint. You'll show an ID and proceed down Dan Elmer Way to Randall Avenue. Take a right on Randall Avenue and park in the Robin Lot, just north of Gate 16 (West End Gate adjacent to the Transit Hub). See the map included in the link at the bottom of this page.

Meet at Gate 16 at 10:30 a.m.

About the State Fair Transit Partner Organizations:

The Minnesota State Fair is the largest 12-day event in North America. Nearly half of its more than 1.7 million annual visitors use public transportation to get to and from the fairgrounds. In partnership with several other transportation organizations, the State Fair will offer 33 free Park & Ride shuttle bus lots and 20 Express Bus Service lots, making getting to the Great Minnesota Get-Together efficient, fun and inexpensive.

Lorenz Bus Service is one of the largest charter bus companies in Greater Minnesota, and the main provider of State Fair Park & Ride service. With the help of Lorenz Bus Service, the State Fair Park & Ride system has grown to 33 lots.

Metro Transit is a service of the Metropolitan Council. Customers boarded buses and trains operated by Metro Transit more than 81 million times in 2013.

SouthWest Transit provides transit services for Chanhassen, Chaska and Eden Prairie, with park and ride ramps located in each city. The agency provides more than one million rides yearly, with the bulk of these being commuters going to and from downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota. For more information visit www.swtransit.org or phone 952-949-2BUS (2287).

MVTA is the public transportation provider for residents and businesses of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount, and Savage. Call (952) 882-7500 for transit information or visit the MVTA website at mvta.com.