Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit (SMART) is a provider of
mass transportation in
Freeborn
"Freeborn" is a term associated with political agitator John Lilburne (1614–1657), a member of the Levellers, a 17th-century English political party. As a word, "freeborn" means born free, rather than in slavery or bondage or vassalage. Lilbu ...
,
Mower
A mower is a person or machine that cuts (mows) grass or other plants that grow on the ground. Usually mowing is distinguished from reaping, which uses similar implements, but is the traditional term for harvesting grain crops, e.g. with reape ...
,
Steele, and
Waseca counties in Minnesota, with
deviated fixed-routes serving the major cities, as well as
demand-response service across the counties. The service is operated by Cedar Valley Services, Inc. In 2019 the system provided 272,878 rides over 62,048 annual vehicle revenue hours with 13 buses and 15 paratransit vehicles.
History
SMART transit began in January 2014 through the consolidation of transit agencies in Freeborn, Mower and Steele counties. SMART transit service in Waseca began on January 2, 2016. On January 2, 2019, the intercity shuttle service between Albert Lea and Austin was launched after the approval of a state grant to fund the service. In 2022, SMART purchased an electric bus for service in Owatonna, the first in the fleet. Replacing a single fossil fuel powered bus will allow the agency to save 2,000-4,000 gallons of fuel each year. SMART reached its millionth rider in October 2018 and two million in March 2023.
Service
SMART provides deviated fixed-route and demand-response services. There are 6 deviated fixed-routes, with one intercity shuttle between Albert Lea and Austin, two providing intra-city transit in Austin, and one each in Albert Lea, Owatonna, and Waseca.
Local Routes
*
Austin
Austin refers to:
Common meanings
* Austin, Texas, United States, a city
* Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...
Purple Route
*
Austin
Austin refers to:
Common meanings
* Austin, Texas, United States, a city
* Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...
Red Route
*City of
Albert Lea Route
*City of
Owatonna Route
*
Waseca City Route
Intercity Routes
*SMART Transit Shuttle Service (serves
Albert Lea and
Austin
Austin refers to:
Common meanings
* Austin, Texas, United States, a city
* Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...
)
Transfer Points
*Austin SMART Transit Office
*Austin Mayo Health Systems
Fixed Route Ridership
The ridership statistics shown here are of deviated fixed route services only and do not include demand response services.
See also
*
List of bus transit systems in the United States
The following is a list of presently-operating bus transit systems in the United States with regular service. The list excludes charter buses, private bus operators, paratransit systems, and trolleybus systems. Figures for daily ridership, numbe ...
*
Mankato Transit System
*
Rochester Public Transit
References
External links
SMART Bus
{{Minnesota public transit
Austin, Minnesota
Freeborn County, Minnesota
Mower County, Minnesota
Steele County, Minnesota
Waseca County, Minnesota
Bus transportation in Minnesota