Commuters in downtown Minneapolis have more travel options after a recent restructuring of the carpool program in the ABC Ramps and Mobility Hubs, according to the city and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).
The carpool discount has been changed from a monthly contract to a $5 daily rate. The rate applies to weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on vehicles with two or more people.
The contract rate has been changed to $20. This allows carpools to commute from anywhere outside the downtown area. The $20 rate previously only applied to commuters driving from the western suburbs. Those driving from areas outside the western suburbs paid $99.
MnDOT asked commuters for their feedback, as well as their most requested flexibility.
“The changes to the carpool program make it more equitable and align better with commuters’ current travel behaviors,” Lisa Austin, MnDOT ABC Ramps and Mobility Hubs program coordinator, said.
Carpooling is one of the options available in the ABC Ramps and Mobility Hubs. The three ramps were built in the early 1990s to reduce congestion and since have been adapted to be a mobility hub providing several transit connections.
They were built in partnership with the city, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Project.