Posted by John Komarek |
Thursday, May 7, 2020 10:54:00 AM
Many Metro Transit employees must continue to report to work in order to perform their duties. Among them is bus operator Brendan Anderson, a Minnesota native who takes the bus and Northstar.
Anderson has been with Metro Transit for 10 years and has been car-free for the last five years.
How do you get to work normally? Has the pandemic changed it?
I live in Minneapolis and work at Nicollet so I take Route 18 to work. I work ten-hour shifts that start in the afternoon and run late into the evening. Normally, I'm able to catch an 18 to and from work. Now, during the pandemic, sometimes I find that my shift runs past 11 p.m., which means the 18 is no longer in service. So I found myself without a way home.
What do you do if you can't catch Route 18?
Thankfully, as an essential employee, I was able to work with Metro Mobility to get point-to-point service to and from work. Now, if I know a shift is going to run past 11 p.m., I can schedule a Metro Mobility shuttle to bring me home. It's a relief to know that I have a way to get home during this stressful time. A big thanks to everyone who helped make sure I can get home.
How do you get around outside of your commute?
Because I don't have a car, I take transit all over the city. My daughter lives in Ramsey, and I used to take Northstar to see her on weekends. Sadly, due to the pandemic, there is no Northstar service on weekends anymore. This has been a big challenge, but thankfully, my ex picks me up and brings me up to see my daughter.
The Met Council is offering free, door-to-door transportation services to health care workers and essential Metro Transit who must report to work. The service is being offered to support those who may have difficulty reaching their jobs due to recent changes in regular route service. More than 8,000 rides have been provided since service began in mid-April.