Metro Transit Bus Passes

Our first video will give examples of the extreme price differences between driving a car and buying a Metro Transit pass. While there is a certain freedom that comes with driving a car, the ever rising gas prices may just be pushing you off the pedal. Metro Transit passes are a convenient and overall cheaper option for transportation. The big questions you are probably asking are, “What are the options?” “How much do they cost?” and “How do I get them?”

The options are many. If you’re working an 8-5 job and want to a transit pass to get you to work every day, one of the options available is a Metropass card. With literally hundreds of participating organizations, it’s very likely that your employer offers this card. The cost is $76 per month and can be used for unlimited rides on all buses and light rail.

If you are a student at a local college or university, the College Pass card may be right for you. There are over 40 schools offering the card, including Metropolitan State, Hamline, Concordia, St. Paul College, and MCTC. The price range for College Pass is $140-175 per semester, and includes unlimited rides for the semester on all buses and light rail.

If the options above don’t apply to you, Metro Transit still has you covered. Go-To Cards are available with options such as: 10-rides for $18.50, 7-day for $22, and a 31-day pass for as low as $59. The 7-day and 31-day cards enable you to ride the buses and light rail an unlimited amount for the duration of the pass.

At first glance, these prices may seem high, especially the Metropass and College Pass cards. However, according to AAA’s 2012 ‘Your Driving Costs’ study, the average sedan costs $8,946 per year to drive. If you were to buy a Metropass card every month you would spend a total $912 for the year; the College Pass would cost a total of $280-$350 for a traditional school year. If you’re trying to cut down on expenses and save money, leaving the car for public transportation may be a great option.

The final question to cover: Where do I get these cards? The Metropass and College Pass cards are offered through the specific organizations and schools, so your best bet would be to ask your employer or school regarding their participation. To obtain a Go-To Card, there are a variety of options. One option is to purchase a card in-person at a local store (e.g. Cub Foods, Rainbow Foods). There are over 125 places to buy a pass, and the list can be found at this website: http://metrotransit.org/buy-in-your-neighborhood.aspx. For those interested in purchasing online, the Metro Transit store, https://store.metrotransit.org/, can be used to obtain your pass.

If you would like to read more about Metro Transit Go-To Cards and passes, go to

http://metrotransit.org/passes-go-to-cards.

What is your experience, if any, with Metro Transit passes?

Sources

· http://metrotransit.org/

· http://newsroom.aaa.com/2012/04/cost-of-owning-and-operating-vehicle-in-u-s-increased-1-9-percent-according-to-aaa%E2%80%99s-2012-%E2%80%98your-driving-costs%E2%80%99-study/