Category Measures

• Bikeways
• Downtown Transportation Alternatives
• Lake Water Quality
• Recycling
• Tree Canopy

Why is this measure important?

Using transportation other than driving is good for our health, budgets and environment. Alternative transportation options include taking the bus or train, carpooling, bicycling and walking. The City plays an important role in making transit affordable and convenient, creating dynamic urban corridors that are safe and accessible for pedestrians and bicyclists, and promoting alternative transportation.

Summary

At the start of 2011, the percentage of people who drove alone to jobs in Minneapolis was 62.1 percent with a two percent margin of error, according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Since 2005, the drive alone mode share for people working in Minneapolis has been steadily declining, after increases from 1990 to 2005. Despite significant decreases in the carpooling mode share, increases in the transit, bicycling and working at home mode share have contributed to a declining drive alone mode share for people commuting to jobs in Minneapolis.

What's Being Done?

• The Metropolitan Council completed the first year of construction for the region’s second light rail transit line - the Green Line – between Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Green Line will open in 2014 and serve an estimated 41,000 weekday riders by 2030.
• Commuter express bus ridership on the new downtown side-by-side bus-only lanes on Marquette and Second avenues, opened in late 2009, continues to grow with a four percent increase between 2009 and 2010 and a five percent increase between 2010 and 2011.
• The total number of downtown Metropass users fell by five percent to 22,641 users, while City employee Metropass use declined by two percent to 461 users.
• Registered 1,295 carpools and vanpools for free or discounted parking in municipal parking facilities, saw a two percent increase from 2010.