Learning how to use the public transportation around St. Thomas is integral to getting around without a car and not breaking your bank account on Uber rides. Whether it’s the bus or the Green Line, navigating the transit system around the Twin Cities gets easier with practice.
How to use Public Transportation
Most regular public transportation users have a Metropass card. St. Thomas offers a student discount on a $150 pass that lasts for one semester. Otherwise, bus and Green Line tickets cost $2.50 during rush hour (Monday-Friday 6-9 a.m. and 3-6:30 p.m.) and $2.00 non-rush hour. The Green and Blue Lines have ticketing stations at each stop that accept cash and card. Bus machines usually only accept cash, so if that isn’t your thing, download the Metro Transit app and load your credit card onto it so you only need to show bus drivers the pass on your phone screen. Be sure to ask the driver for a transfer ticket if you’re transferring to another bus or train. As for planning, refer to Google Maps and the Metro Transit App for schedule times.
Lime
Lime bikes and scooters are a convenient, and most of all, fun way to get around. Simply download the Lime or Uber app and scan the QR code on the scooter or bike, and you’re on your way. Keep in mind that Lime doesn’t allow you to ride on pedestrian-only areas like most sidewalks on campus. Also, they’re only available during non-snowy months. Don’t forget to park your scooter or bike in a public area once you’re done with it.
The 63
The 63 is the major bus line that runs around St. Thomas that will help you get to where you need to go. The route heads north on Cretin Avenue to connect you to University Avenue and ultimately, the Green Line. The route also goes east on Grand Avenue to connect you to stops like Macalester College, Kowalski’s Markets, Dunn Brothers Coffee and West Mall Victoria Crossing.
Take the 63 to its last stop, Berry Street, to get to the Green Line. You could also get off on Raymond Avenue, but I like to spend more time on buses and the least amount of time on the train as possible. Especially in winter, the cleanliness and safety of the bus beats waiting outside at a Green Line stop.
The 21
The current 21 route is soon-to-be the Metro B Line. It stops right by Black Coffee and Waffle Bar and heads east towards downtown St. Paul to get to the Xcel Energy Center. It also heads west toward Bde Maka Ska.
The 87
Take the 87 north to get to Rosedale Center, the closest major mall to St. Thomas. The mall harbors an impressive food court and an AMC theater. Make sure to schedule your trip, though, because the bus only comes every 30 minutes and every hour on Sundays.
The Green Line
Take the bus to the Green Line to connect to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to attend a game or show. Or, take it to transfer to the Blue Line, which will get you to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport and the Mall of America.
The bottom line
Public transportation in the metro area can be hard to navigate at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a breeze. Happy travels!
Anya Capistrant-Kinney can be reached at capi2087@stthomas.edu.