MBTA reports rising ridership, expands on-demand 'Connect' service in Eagan

Representatives of the MBTA briefed the Eagan City Council on June 10, saying ridership is increasing and that the agency is expanding its on‑demand Connect service across its member cities, including Eagan.

The MBTA presentation described a post‑pandemic recovery in ridership and a shift in the agency's service mix toward on‑demand Connect trips. "When you look at ridership by month... we have spikes in August and September," MBTA presenter Luther Winter said, adding the agency has seen a roughly 7–10% year‑over‑year increase since 2023 but not yet a full return to pre‑pandemic levels.

Why it matters: local transit access influences commuters' travel choices, parking demand and the city’s emissions profile. MBTA officials told council members that Eagan is one of the agency’s original members and receives multiple express and local routes alongside Connect service.

MBTA overview and service mix MBTA said its footprint includes 170 buses, 24 routes, park‑and‑ride lots and two garages. Winter said Eagan receives multiple express routes (numbers given by the presenter) and a variety of local services. He described Connect as a shared, app‑based, on‑demand service that allows bookings up to three hours in advance and is deployed where fixed‑route frequency or coverage is not viable.

"We reduced our local service about 10% and we end up seeing... an increase in Connect," Winter said, explaining MBTA reallocated some local service hours into Connect as ridership patterns shifted. He said average wait targets for Connect are about 20–25 minutes and that the agency adds vehicles if average wait time exceeds that window.

Equity and cost discussion MBTA staff described the Connect customer profile: about 47% of riders are people of color, a majority are female, and a meaningful share — one in ten — reported a disability or long‑term health condition. Winter said roughly 45% of Connect riders said they would not have had Uber or Lyft available, and that some riders earn under $15,000 per year. "If you look at our demographics... 1 in 5 customers made $15,000 or less," Winter said, arguing that Connect serves riders for whom ride‑hail is not affordable or reliably available.

Winter compared Connect fares informally with ride‑hail, noting that suburban Uber/Lyft one‑way trips average about $22–$28 in the MBTA service area, leaving Connect positioned as a lower‑cost option for low‑income riders.

Fleet, electrification and infrastructure MBTA said it is adding electric vehicles and new charging infrastructure, and that a day‑to‑day fleet life and battery expectations make the newer electric cutaway‑style vehicles comparable on a lifecycle basis to diesel cutaways. Winter noted his agency had procured early electric models and reported performance consistent with manufacturer claims.

Funding constraints and near‑term plans MBTA told council members the agency requested a regional sales tax allocation during the recent legislative session and did not receive the allocation; Winter said that will limit expansion and that, without the allocation, the agency will continue to reallocate existing service rather than grow it. He said MBTA expects roughly $27,000,000 a year in sales tax revenue for the region if allocations proceed, and told the council staff and commissioners that securing sustained funding would be critical for planned expansions, event service and increased frequency on some routes. MBTA said special event service (for concerts, the Vikings and local festivals) remains an important ridership driver and that the agency will provide 15‑minute frequency for Artfest and Funfest in Eagan this summer.

Ending MBTA officials asked cities to be partners on outreach and to consider local funding options if regional allocations are limited. The council did not take formal action on MBTA recommendations at the workshop; MBTA staff said they would continue planning and work with the county and local partners on funding and service coordination.