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Legislative Action

State Legislative Update

SouthWest Transit (SWT) is the fastest-growing transit agency in Minnesota. Yet despite this growth and our commitment to operating in a cost-effective manner, we could lose SWT as discussions continue at the Capitol. These proposals would impact riders, employers, and our communities that depend on SouthWest Transit for daily mobility and economic connection. Community voices and continued engagement will be critical in helping policymakers recognize the importance and value of SWT.

➡ Take Action: Use Your Voice to Support SouthWest Transit

 

Email Your State Senator and Representative With a Few Clicks

Riders, community members, and supporters are encouraged to speak up in support of SouthWest Transit by emailing their legislators and sharing why SWT matters to them and their community. We’ve provided pre-written, editable messages that automatically identify and send to your elected officials as a constituent. Your voice can help stop proposals that would eliminate SWT and ensure these essential services continue across the region.

 

Riders click HERE

Community Members click HERE

Community Partners & Organizations click HERE

Local Elected Officials click HERE

 

 

What YOU Can Do

For Legislators:

  • Join us at the upcoming  SouthWest Transit Day at the Capitol: Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Stay tuned for a detailed agenda coming soon!

For Community Members and Partners:

  • Show your support and have your voice heard – head to "Take Action" above!
  • Spread the word! Share the "Take Action" link with your peers and use our toolkit which includes easy copy and post assets for your socials (and newsletters) – check it out below!
  • Make sure you don't miss a thing and sign up for our newsletters HERE

Cities/Counties that have passed resolutions in support of SouthWest Transit:

  • City of Eden Prairie 
  • City of Chanhassen 
  • City of Chaska 
  • City of Carver 
  • City of Victoria
  • Carver County 

See a sample resolution in support of SouthWest Transit HERE. 

State of SouthWest Transit (What Sets Us Apart)

SouthWest Transit (SWT) is the fastest growing transit agency in Minnesota according to 2025 NTD reports! We serve the southwest Twin Cities and operate under a joint powers agreement between Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, and Chaska. We also serve Carver, Victoria, Edina and parts of Shakopee. In 2026, we are celebrating 40 years of service to our community! 

 

Service and Ridership Overview 

  • In 2025, our riders took 614,062 trips – a 14.16% increase over the previous year 
  • Growth was primarily driven by trips on our regularly scheduled bus routes, which saw an increase of 24.6% 

 

New Services and Innovations in 2025 

  • The 686 Route 
    • Was used 59.78% more than the service it replaced 
    • 686L: provides access along the I-494 corridor, including local businesses and employment areas 
    • 686X: provides direct service from SouthWest Station (Eden Prairie) to MSP Airport and the Mall of America (MOA) 
  • SW Prime Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Zone – the first AV service in the Twin Cities 
    • Part of our microtransit service (SW Prime) 
    • Was used 144.11% more than the service that came before 
  • Automatic Passenger Counters using AI technology made their debut, improving real-time service planning and ridership tracking 

 

Rider and Community Surveys 

  • Rider surveys show 96-98% satisfaction across our services 
  • Community surveys show 61% positive vs. 14% negative perception of SWT 

 

Economic Opportunity & Connections 

  • 71.6% of commuter bus trips are to work 
  • 46% of SW Prime (microtransit) trip purposes are for work 

 

Financial Stewardship and Operations 

  • Our subsidy per trip on express bus services is 22% lower than Metro Transit ($12.07 vs. $15.42) 
  • Our 2024 administrative costs are 25% of total operating costs compared to 25% for Metro Transit and 33% for Met Council

 

Planning and Community Engagement 

  • We completed the Carver County Mobility Study, with results to be released in 2026 
  • Community engagement initiatives, including the Wrap-A-Bus design contest, connected local youth to our services 
  • We continue to coordinate with riders, cities, and regional partners on service planning 

In the Media

  • Chaska "Citizen Portal": SouthWest Transit reports 14% ridership growth, seeks Chaska support... Read More.
  • Press Release: SouthWest Transit Shares Yearly Update Highlighting Strong Growth, Efficiency, and Community Impact. Read More.
  • Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN): SouthWest Transit reports strong ridership growth in 2025. Read More.
  • Sun Sailor: SouthWest Transit sees growth as it enters 40th year. Read More.

Share Your Support – Easy Copy & Post Assets

This toolkit was created to make it easy for riders, community members, and partners/organizations/companies to show their support for SouthWest Transit. Whether you’re sharing as an individual or posting on behalf of an organization, these ready-to-use assets help you add your voice and amplify the message. 

 

What’s Here & How to Use It 

  • Explore the graphic and caption options – we made two versions: 
    • Riders & community members (uses “I / me” language) 
    • Community partners & organizations (uses “we / us” language)
      • Partners & orgs – we also have some quick blurbs for your next newsletter! Check them out below
  • Choose the version that fits your role, download your favorite graphic option, and personalize the caption to reflect your own voice or organization (if you'd like)
  • Share on your social channels and tag us (our handles can be found in PDFs below)

  

Graphic and Caption Options 

For riders & community members: 

  

For community partners/groups/organization/companies: