by The University of Minnesota launched an express bus route two weeks ago that quickly transports students between the East Bank, West Bank and St. Paul campuses.
The 126 runs every 18 minutes and has a goal of keeping the commute quick. It’s an alternative to the 121, which can take nearly 30 minutes on a busy day to get from the West Bank campus to St. Paul.
The bus stops at only six locations, compared with the 121’s 15 stops. It also waits longer at stops on the West Bank and St. Paul campuses to ensure that passengers can catch the bus before it leaves.
The new route is an alternative to the 121, which also transports students between the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses. Although promising, students haven’t quite been sold on the new route. Eddie McManus said having more busses going at the same time could make the route more useful.
“I think that it having only two buses, at any one time, means it’s maybe not as efficient as people were expecting,” he said.
Sarah Bassas said that the new route was a nice secondary option, but the university should look into expanding its route system past the campus.
“Sometimes I feel like the routes are so similar. Like, all of them go to the same place, or they’re all, like, traveling the same route,” she said. “So, I guess, it would be nice if I could maybe get to, like, see Anthony easier or, like, even, like, Columbia Heights, like, I do wish that the public transportation was expanded into the suburbs and, like, outside the city. Um, but for what it is right now, I think it’s good.”
But generally, people were happy to have another bus route to use. Victoria Utura said that it helps to have additional bus routes for people who want to dodge the weather.
“It’s cool because I’m kinda a hermit, and don’t really go outside especially in the winter. So to have options, is a great plus for those don’t really… that are scared of the cold or don’t really walk outside.”
And now, students have a second option to get between the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses.
