We will gather at 8th and Marquette, north corner, at 4:30pm (right by the IDS). From there, we will take a trip to Asia Mall using Southwest Transit’s express service. I anticipate the event concluding at around 6:30pm, where we will use a service called Southwest Prime, the rideshare service operated by SouthWest Transit, to get us to the Orange Line to bring us back home.
SouthWest Prime was started in 2015 and primarily serves the cities of Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Chaska, Carver and Victoria. The service also provides trips into or out of parts of Edina, Minnetonka, Richfield, Bloomington, Shakopee, the Mall of America, and MSP Airport.
Event Details
Friday 7/19, 4:30pm
8th St and Marquette Ave, north corner
What should I bring?
• Yourself
• A $5 bill or a bank card for fare to ride the service IMPORTANT: PRIME DOES NOT ACCEPT THE GO-TO CARD
• Money to buy pastries from Keefer Court (no-host)
Frequently-Asked Questions
What exactly is this public transit solution to rideshare you speak of?
Jiahong wrote a piece in the Reformer that was republished in Fast Company. It's called microtransit. It works much like Uber and Lyft. The major differences are:
• You hail the ride much like you would an Uber or Lyft
• You may share the ride with one or two other people
• SouthWest Prime drivers are unionized W-2 employees of a private company contracted to operate the service
• SouthWest Prime drivers are subject to background checks and random drug testing
Read it here: https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/01/09/local-transit-agencies-mimicking-uber-and-lyft-are-seeing-big-ridership-gains/
Why are you doing this when driving is so much easier?
As a journalist, I like to invite my readers the opportunity to experience firsthand some of the issues I report on. One of them is transportation. My goal is to ensure you develop a better understanding of issues facing Minnesota's transit systems. You'll also have the opportunity to make friends, go on an adventure, and learn more about public rideshare options.
Also, not everyone can drive for one reason or another, and streets.mn’s vision is to ensure people are able to get anywhere regardless of ability. The Asia Mall vehicle parking lot also fills up fast and gets congested, especially on weekends.
How are we getting there?
To Asia Mall: We are taking a Southwest Transit express bus to Southwest Station. We will then meet with Southwest Transit staff, who will explain to us how Prime works. From there, we will take Prime to Asia Mall.
Where do I park?
Bike racks are available for use on 8th Street. Southwest Transit express buses also handle up to 3 bikes. Southwest Prime vehicles handle anywhere from zero to 2 bikes.
How Long Will This Trip Take? What is the tentative itinerary?
This trip is expected to take two and a half hours. The tentative itinerary is as follows:
- 4:30pm Meet at 8th/Marquette
- 4:35pm board Route 698 to Southwest Station
- 5:06pm arrive Southwest Station
- 6pm arrive Asia Mall
- 6:30pm book Prime rides back to Knox/76th Street station
- ~7:30pm arrive downtown Minneapolis.
How much will the total trip cost?
The total trip will cost adults $8.25
The fare breakdown is as follows:
- Southwest Transit: $3.25 one way
- SouthWest Prime: $5.00 one way. Includes a transfer that is issued at the end of the Prime trip upon request and good for 2.5 hours on all bus and rail service, including Metro Transit and MVTA
Are masks required?
I will encourage you to wear your mask and will have N95 masks available for distribution. I myself will wear a mask. Note Metro Transit buses use MERV-4 filters.
How much walking will be involved?
Most of the walking will be done wandering around Asia Mall and its parking lot. The Asia Mall has floors that appear slippery. The Asia Mall parking lot is paved with bitumen. The walk that leads to the entrance and the gazebo is paved with concrete.
Will there be any places for me to sit?
Aside from the bus, Keefer Court has seating in their bakery, as well as other restaurants at Asia Mall. Asia Mall also has a gazebo just outside of the main entrance that has bench seating.
Will there be any restrooms in case I have to go?
The following places have restrooms:
- Asia Mall (located on the 2nd floor, accessible by stairway or elevator)
What if I run late or need to cancel?
You will receive details on how to communicate with us in the event that you are delayed.
Who are you?
I am a freelance journalist who covers transportation issues. I'm based in Minneapolis. Follow me on Twitter:
h_pan3, IG:
hpphmore or Bluesky:
hpan3.bsky.social.
