Rosemount's Transit Ridership Jumped 32% Last Year
TLDR
Rosemount's MVTA ridership grew 32% year-over-year — way above the agency-wide 7.8% average.
Connect, the app-based door-to-door microtransit service, is the big driver, up 37%.
Route changes are coming: the 484 to Minneapolis is being reworked, and a new 480R route serves the same riders Monday through Thursday.
MVTA is researching new State Fair bus service from Apple Valley for the first time.
At Tuesday's Rosemount City Council meeting on May 19, MVTA CEO Luther Wynder gave the council his yearly transit update. And buried in the numbers was a standout stat: while the whole Minnesota Valley Transit Authority system grew 7.8% in ridership, Rosemount specifically jumped 32%. That's a big deal for a city this size.
Why Rosemount Is Outpacing Everyone
The growth is largely thanks to Connect — MVTA's on-demand microtransit. Think of it like a city-run rideshare: you book a ride on an app (or even walk up to a parked Connect bus and ask the driver), and it takes you point to point for $3 each way. Rosemount's Connect ridership was up 37%, and the route 420 — which now serves Dakota County Technical College — climbed 24%.
Wynder explained why Connect matters so much. About 65% of Connect riders use it to get to and from work. And nearly half of all Connect riders have a household income under $25,000. For someone making that, a $3 ride beats a $20-30 Uber every single day. As Wynder put it, two Uber trips a day to work just isn't "financially possible" on that income — which is exactly the gap Connect fills.
Across the whole system, Connect's main zone is now handling over 400 rides a day, with wait times brought down to under 25 minutes after MVTA shifted some buses around. They've got three more buses on order and may approve five more soon.
Route Changes Coming to Rosemount
A few things are shifting in 2026:
Route 484 (to Minneapolis): This route had productivity issues. After talking with the Rosemount residents who actually ride it, MVTA learned they mostly work from home on Fridays. So instead of cutting service, they're adding a new 480R route that covers the same riders Monday through Thursday.
Route 472 → 470: The 472 is being replaced by the 470, which actually gives riders more trips while keeping service to Minneapolis.
The theme here, Wynder said, is that MVTA tries to talk to riders before changing routes — gathering specifics so they can keep comparable service even when they tweak things.
State Fair Service From Apple Valley?
Here's a fun one. MVTA is researching running State Fair bus service from Apple Valley for the first time ever — partly because of the traffic headaches on the Burnsville side. If it happens, it'd be weekday Monday-through-Friday service adjacent to Rosemount. Still in the costing phase, so stay tuned.
MVTA also runs event service for local stuff like Leprechaun Days, plus Vikings games, concerts, the Renaissance Festival, and the State Fair.
The Legislative Scare That Fizzled
Wynder also touched on a bill at the legislature this session — House File 4411 — that would have eliminated suburban transit providers like MVTA and folded everything under Met Council. We covered that fight in depth when it came up at a recent Burnsville council meeting. The short version: MVTA argued the bill relied on outdated pandemic-era data and inflated savings claims, and after pushback from cities, chambers of commerce, and businesses, no transportation bill passed this session. The threat is off the table for now.
Council member Paul Esler, who sits on the MVTA board, praised the agency's local advocacy and creativity, and noted the board would be looking at the Uber/Lyft competition question at an upcoming meeting.
The Bottom Line
If you're a Rosemount resident who's never tried Connect, this is the pitch: it's $3 a ride, runs 7 days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., takes cash or Go-To cards, and even allows walk-ups at park-and-rides. Wynder noted a common misconception — people think it's a "senior bus" or only for riders with disabilities, but it's open to anyone. MVTA reports a 93% customer satisfaction rating. The Rosemount Transit Station is also getting its electrification finished this summer.
FAQ
What's MVTA Connect, exactly? It's an app-based, on-demand bus service — kind of like a public rideshare. You book a trip and it takes you point to point for $3 each way, with free transfers to fixed-route buses. It runs 7 days a week, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Wait, is the bus only for seniors? No — that's a common misunderstanding. Connect is open to anyone. MVTA says it's actively trying to get the word out to younger riders who assume it's only for elderly or disabled passengers.
Are my Rosemount bus routes changing? A few are. Route 484 to Minneapolis is being reworked with a new 480R route serving the same riders Monday-Thursday, and route 472 is being replaced by the 470, which adds more trips.
Is there really State Fair bus service coming? Maybe. MVTA is researching weekday service from Apple Valley for the first time, partly to dodge Burnsville-side traffic. It's still being costed out — no firm commitment yet.
Whatever happened to that bill to take over MVTA? House File 4411 would have eliminated suburban transit providers, but it didn't pass. No transportation bill cleared the legislature this session, so MVTA stays independent for now.
