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Month: October 2025

SouthWest Transit Announces Winners of the 2026 Community Design Contest

Posted on by dhaval

Eden Prairie, Minn., July 13, 2026 — The wait is over! SouthWest Transit is excited to announce the winners of its 2026 Community Design Contest, an initiative that gives young artists the opportunity to see their artwork transformed into a full-size bus wrap that will travel throughout the southwest metro. 

After reviewing all the incredible entries our judges have made their selections. Drumroll, please! The winning designs are: 

McKinley Ulfers, 15, of Eden Prairie
Maya Chang, 12, of Eden Prairie 

This year’s theme was inspired by two Minnesota favorites—the State Fair and the Renaissance Festival. Individuals ages 11–18 who live in or attend school within SouthWest Transit’s service area were invited to create designs celebrating the sights, traditions, and experiences that make these events special. 

McKinley’s winning design, From Sunrise to Sunset, celebrates a full day at the Minnesota State Fair—from the first ride in the morning to the last parade at sunset. Inspired by her family’s annual tradition of spending the entire day at the fair, her colorful design features favorite attractions including the Giant Slide, Ferris wheel, Skyride, parade, and fair food. As a snare drummer herself, McKinley also chose to feature a female snare drummer in her artwork, hoping to inspire other young girls to see themselves represented and encouraged to pursue their passions. 

Maya’s winning design, Renaissance & State Fair Bus, brings this year’s theme to life by transforming the bus into two colorful worlds—one side celebrating the Renaissance Festival and the other the Minnesota State Fair. Her artwork features original characters alongside recognizable elements from each event, creating a fun and imaginative interpretation of two Minnesota favorites. Maya has enjoyed creating art for many years and especially loves drawing anime and designing her own characters. She hopes to write and illustrate her own manga or comic book one day.

The creativity did not stop there! SouthWest Transit also held an internal contest, giving employees the opportunity to submit their own bus wrap designs. Jordan Sorvari was selected as the winner, and his artwork will also be featured on a SouthWest Transit bus. 

Jordan Sorvari’s winning employee design, Northern Lights, combines childhood memories of two Minnesota favorites into one striking design. Inspired by the glowing lights of the Minnesota State Fair and the magic of the Renaissance Festival, Jordan created a scene featuring a dragon weaving through the Northern Lights. The flowing movement of the dragon mirrors the dancing aurora while adding a playful nod to the Renaissance Festival’s knights. 

“At SouthWest Transit, we believe our buses are more than just a way to get from one place to another. They are part of the communities we serve,” said Erik Hansen, CEO of SouthWest Transit. “This contest gives young artists the opportunity to share their creativity with thousands of people while highlighting their incredible talent. We are proud to help bring their ideas to life and cannot wait to unveil these designs.” 

The winning artwork will soon move from the page to the road, giving riders and community members the chance to see these designs come to life on full-size buses. 

SouthWest Transit is also bringing back its BOGO shuttle promotion for the Minnesota State Fair and Renaissance Festival. Riders who buy a shuttle ticket to either the State Fair or Renaissance Festival will receive a ride voucher to the other event. 

For more information about the Community Design Contest, updates on the official bus wrap reveal, and details about SouthWest Transit’s event shuttle services, visit SouthWest Transit’s website. 

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About SouthWest Transit  

SouthWest Transit is an award-winning Transit agency serving the SouthWest Twin Cities area through bus, on demand rideshare, and shuttle services. The agency is committed to serving the needs of their customers through diverse and innovative transit solutions that build community and connect customers from where they are to where they want to go. Visit www.swtransit.org for more information and follow along on LinkedIn.  

Media Contact  
Amy Boehm  
SouthWest Transit  
aboehm@swtransit.org  
952-974-3108

 

SouthWest Transit Celebrates 40th Anniversary and Announces Second Annual Community Design Contest

Posted on by dhaval

Eden Prairie, Minn., May 6, 2026 — Back by popular demand, SouthWest Transit’s second annual Community Design Contest invites young artists to design original artwork for two shuttle buses celebrating Minnesota’s most iconic summer events, the State Fair and the Renaissance Festival. 

Last year’s inaugural contest received 30 submissions, and this year SouthWest Transit is once again offering young artists the chance to see their ideas turned into moving artwork across the southwest metro. 

Two winners will be selected with their designs transformed into full bus wraps and featured on shuttle buses serving the State Fair and Renaissance Festival. Winners will also be recognized at a SouthWest Transit Commission meeting on July 16, where they’ll share their designs with community leaders. 

“This contest is one of our favorite ways to connect with the communities we serve,” said Erik Hansen, CEO of SouthWest Transit. “It gives young artists a platform to share their creativity while celebrating two of Minnesota’s most well-loved summer events.” 

The contest is open to students ages 11–18 who live or attend school in Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Chaska, Carver, and Victoria. 

Entry forms and design templates are available starting May 6, 2026, at www.swtransit.org/community-design-contest/ and at SouthWest Transit’s administrative office in Eden Prairie. 

All submissions are due by June 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM and will be judged on creativity, originality, color use, and overall adherence to the Minnesota State Fair and Renaissance Festival theme. 

Winners will be announced in June and featured across SouthWest Transit promotional channels. 

Full contest details can be found on the SWT website. 

In addition to the contest, SouthWest Transit is bringing back its BOGO shuttle promotion. Riders who purchase a shuttle ticket to either the Minnesota State Fair or the Renaissance Festival will receive a free ride to the other event for another day. 

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About SouthWest Transit 

SouthWest Transit is an award-winning Transit agency serving the SouthWest Twin Cities area through bus, on-demand rideshare, and shuttle services. The agency is committed to serving the needs of their customers through diverse and innovative transit solutions that build community and connect customers from where they are to where they want to go. Visit www.swtransit.org for more information and follow along on LinkedIn. 

 

Media Contact 
Amy Boehm 
SouthWest Transit 
aboehm@swtransit.org 
952-974-3108

 

SouthWest Transit Shares Yearly Update Highlighting Strong Growth, Efficiency, and Community Impact

Posted on by dhaval

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, February 4, 2026 – SouthWest Transit (SWT) released its 2025 ridership numbers, highlighting record ridership growth, high customer satisfaction, and cost-effective transit service sets the agency apart from comparable Minnesota transit providers. The update provides a snapshot of SWT’s performance and the role it plays in connecting residents to jobs, education, healthcare, and daily needs across the southwest metro. 

SouthWest Transit continues to be the most dynamic transit agency in the state of Minnesota. In 2025, SouthWest Transit recorded a 14% year-over-year ridership growth, the highest of any transit agency in Minnesota. SWT also continues to operate efficiently, with administrative costs accounting for 25% of total expenditures, lower than comparable regional agencies, and a lower subsidy per rider for commuter bus service than Metro Transit. 

“SouthWest Transit is growing because our services work for the people and communities we serve,” said Erik Hansen, CEO of SouthWest Transit. “We focus every day on providing reliable, efficient transportation that connects riders to opportunity while being good stewards of public dollars.” 

Customer satisfaction remains exceptionally high across SWT services, demonstrating the trust customers place in SWT. Recent survey results show 96% satisfaction with micro-transit service, 97% satisfaction with commuter bus service, and 98% of riders using SouthWest Transit service to the Minnesota State Fair said they would ride again. 

SouthWest Transit continues to be a key economic driver for residents to access jobs, with survey data showing that 71.6% of commuter bus trips are taken for work, while 46% of SW Prime trips support employment. Many riders rely on SWT services because they do not drive, need accessible transportation, or require affordable options to remain independent. 

“Our services are about more than moving people from point A to point B,” Hansen said. “They’re about access — to work, healthcare, education, and community life — and ensuring our region remains economically strong and connected.” 

The annual update also comes as SouthWest Transit faces increasing policy discussions at the State Capitol about the future of regional transit systems. SWT leaders emphasize that continued community support and engagement will be critical to ensuring decision-makers understand the value and performance of SouthWest Transit. 

More information about SouthWest Transit’s services, performance, and ways to engage can be found at www.swtransit.org. 

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About SouthWest Transit
SouthWest Transit is the 2024 Minnesota Transit System of the Year and serves the southwest Twin Cities area through bus, on-demand rideshare, and special transit services. We are committed to serving the needs of our customers through diverse and innovative transit solutions that build our community and connect our customers from where they are to where they want to go. 

 

Media Contact: Leslie Rosedahl, 651.353.1818, Leslie@RosedahlPublicAffairs.com

 

SouthWest Transit unveils autonomous vehicles (AVs) to local leaders

Posted on by dhaval

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, November 7, 2024 – SouthWest Transit (SWT) held an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) unveiling event yesterday, bringing together local leaders and stakeholders to celebrate this milestone initiative and welcome the new technology to the Twin Cities. Attendees were given the opportunity to experience the AVs firsthand through short rides in the vicinity of SouthWest Station in Eden Prairie. 

The event featured speakers including Erik Hansen, CEO of SouthWest Transit; Mayor Ron Case of Eden Prairie; Quinn Kliman, Vice President of Customers at Spare; Deb Barber, District 4 Representative of the Metropolitan Council; and Manik Dhar, Chief Commercial Officer of May Mobility (MM). 

“This is really a story about partnerships, because there are many people that it took to put this all together,” said Hansen. “This [initiative] is really central to our mission at SWT about serving people, serving our customers, and connecting people from where they are to where they want to go, and doing that in innovative and really fascinating ways that represent the future of transit.”  

Mayor Case highlighted Eden Prairie’s (EP) role in leading innovative technology, noting, “For the sake of our city, for the sake of the region, for the sake of the country, world, it’s important that we do stay cutting-edge and innovative… When you get the new technology that’s coming online, you don’t overnight transition from wherever you were… It’s got to be transitional, and somebody has to be out there starting it and piloting it… To have Eden Prairie be the leader in some of these innovative technologies is really exciting for me, but I think it’s exciting for EP and it benefits our residents and businesses… It just benefits all of us.”  

Dhar expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “I’m super delighted to be here to celebrate the upcoming launch of SW Prime’s AV service in Eden Prairie. I’d like to give a big thanks to Erik Hansen and the entire team at SWT. With the support and collaboration of our partners here, residents and guests of Eden Prairie will now have the opportunity to experience our innovative transportation solution. We’re proud to stand alongside SouthWest Transit to drive a movement that’s transforming transportation and look forward to working together as we drive toward a connected, autonomous future.” 

Additional information about the SW Prime AV service is available on the SWT website. Look for official launch and service details later this year. 

About SouthWest Transit  

SouthWest Transit is an award-winning Transit agency serving the SouthWest Twin Cities area through bus, on-demand rideshare, and shuttle services. The agency is committed to serving the needs of their customers through diverse and innovative transit solutions that build the community and connect customers from where they are to where they want to go. Visit www.swtransit.org for more information and follow along on LinkedIn. 

About May Mobility 

May Mobility is an autonomous driving (AD) technology company redefining the future of autonomous mobility-as-a-service (MaaS). Leveraging its patented Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) system, May Mobility built an industry-leading in-situ AI solution, which integrates real-time data every 200 milliseconds to ensure safety and efficiency, even in unpredictable situations. This revolutionary technology pairs live, online learning with traditional offline training, enabling rapid global deployment at half the cost and a fraction of the time. Operating fleets of on-demand shared ride vehicles across the U.S. and Japan, May Mobility delivers safer, more efficient transportation across diverse environments, including rural cities, dense urban areas and challenging weather conditions. Backed by strategic partnerships with industry leaders, including Toyota Motor Corporation and NTT, May Mobility is disrupting the autonomous vehicle industry with one of the most practical vehicle offerings available. The company has completed over 400,000 autonomy-enabled rides across 16 deployments worldwide. For more information, visit www.maymobility.com. 

L-R: Deb Barber, Erik Hansen, Ron Case, Manik Dhar, Quinn Kliman

L-R: Deb Barber, Erik Hansen, Ron Case, Manik Dhar, Quinn Kliman

 

SouthWest Transit named ‘Transit System of the Year’

Posted on by dhaval

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, UNITED STATES, October 15, 2024 – SouthWest Transit (SWT) is proud to announce it has been honored as the 2024 Transit System of the Year by the Minnesota Public Transit Association (MPTA), recognizing the organization’s leadership in community impact and commitment to innovation.

MPTA describes the Transit System of the Year Award as “presented annually to an organization that has demonstrated significant achievements in efficiency and effectiveness, including reports on ridership, cost, safety, maintenance proficiency, agency policy, and administration of the organization’s achievement of its goals and objectives.”

As he stood to accept the award, CEO Erik Hansen called up all members of the SWT team in attendance, saying, “Come up, all of you, this is awarded to all of us, it’s a team effort.” On behalf of the full team, he went on to say, “We’re proud and humbled to receive this award among a room full of our fellow partners in transit. We look forward to continuing to provide the same premium experience our customers have grown to rely on from SouthWest Transit.”

In the last year, SouthWest Transit expanded their shuttle service to include a wider variety of events, diversifying its service offerings to further serve the needs of the community. Next month, SouthWest Transit is launching a fleet of autonomous vehicles into their SouthWest Prime on-demand rideshare service (the first in the Twin Cities Metro), and in early 2025, service will begin along the 494 corridor.

About SouthWest Transit

SouthWest Transit is an award-winning Transit agency serving the SouthWest Twin Cities area through fixed route transportation, microtransit, and shuttle services. The agency is committed to serving the needs of their customers through diverse and innovative transit solutions that build the community and connect customers from where they are to where they want to go. Visit www.swtransit.org for more information and follow along on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Erica Schulte King 
SouthWest Transit 
eking@swtransit.org 

SouthWest Transit announces successful debut of service to the Minnesota Renaissance festival

Posted on by dhaval

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, UNITED STATES, October 1, 2024 — SouthWest Transit (SWT) has wrapped up its first-time service to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and announced it to be a success, with ridership exceeding 32,000. Rider feedback reported in surveys during the RenFest was highly positive, with a 95% satisfaction rate for both the service and for SWT overall.

Erik Hansen, CEO, stated, “We’re thrilled with the positive feedback from our community on our recent initiative. This success highlights our commitment to improving our services to better meet community needs. By connecting riders to events like the Renaissance Festival, we not only enhance their experiences but also strengthen our mission to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transit solutions.”

SouthWest Transit Announces Successful Debut of Service to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival


The Renaissance Festival is only the beginning of SWT’s plan to increase the diversity of their special events services. In addition to the RenFest, SouthWest Transit has announced service to other events this fall such as the Wild and Timberwolves, while continuing their traditional offerings of the Vikings, Gophers, and concerts. Looking forward to 2025, SouthWest Transit intends to add more cultural events and festivals to their shuttle service lineup.

About SouthWest Transit

SouthWest Transit is an award-winning Transit agency serving the southwest Twin Cities area through fixed route transportation, microtransit, and shuttle services. The agency is committed to serving the needs of their customers through diverse and innovative transit solutions that build the community and connect customers from where they are to where they want to go. Visit www.swtransit.org for more information and follow along on LinkedIn (Southwest Transit-MN).

Media Contact:

Erica Schulte King 
SouthWest Transit 
eking@swtransit.org 

Announcing The First Autonomous Microtransit Service in the Twin Cities

Posted on by dhaval
May Mobility and SouthWest Transit announce first autonomous microtransit service in the Twin Cities area

May Mobility and SouthWest Transit announce first autonomous microtransit service in the Twin Cities area

ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 8, 2024—
May Mobility, a leader in the development and deployment of autonomous driving (AD) technology, and
SouthWest Transit, an award-winning transit agency serving the SouthWest Twin Cities, today announced they are partnering to provide autonomous microtransit service in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. May Mobility’s autonomous vehicles (AVs) are scheduled to be integrated into SouthWest Transit’s transportation ecosystem in the fall of this year, providing the public with an additional on-demand option for reliable transportation.

Looking to enhance its existing microtransit service, SouthWest Prime, with an innovative transportation solution, SouthWest Transit has signed a 3-year contract with May Mobility. May Mobility’s AVs will connect the public to residential, employment and shopping districts while also providing essential first- and last-mile transportation to key mobility hubs in Eden Prairie. Riders will be able to conveniently travel to and from pre-determined stops by using their current Prime mobile app, powered by Spare, the leader in on-demand transit software. The service will also include a stop at the Southwest Light Rail, which connects downtown Minneapolis, downtown Saint Paul and places in between.

Over the last three years, Spare has powered SouthWest Transit’s microtransit service. Now, by leveraging the technology and expertise of both Spare and May Mobility, SouthWest Transit will be able to deliver an enhanced and highly reliable transportation experience to their current riders in Eden Prairie and expand those services to those who currently don’t have access.

“We’re excited to be the first to bring this innovative transit solution to the Twin Cities. By expanding on our wildly popular Southwest Prime microtransit service, we will stay on the cutting edge and ensure that we can provide a premium transit service for years to come,” said Erik Hansen, CEO of SouthWest Transit.

May Mobility will deploy five wheelchair-accessible AVs that feature an ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp and securement system. By using a fully wheelchair-accessible fleet, the service will give both wheelchair users and other riders greater access to safe, convenient and comfortable transportation.

“Our autonomous driving technology has proven its ability to scale well across diverse circumstances and even navigate under the state’s harsh winter climates,” said Manik Dhar, chief commercial officer for May Mobility. “Our experience in deploying safe and equitable autonomous rides will enhance the city’s public transportation system and connect even more people to essential destinations both near and far.”

“SouthWest Transit’s embrace of autonomous vehicles truly sets a standard in transportation innovation,” said Kristoffer Vik Hansen, co-founder and CEO at Spare. “We’re excited to collaborate with May Mobility and SouthWest Transit, offering Minnesota residents a novel and, ultimately, more efficient way to travel. This partnership is extending the freedom of mobility to more people, especially those without access to a personal vehicle.”

SouthWest Transit and May Mobility plan to engage with the community in the upcoming months to educate future riders about autonomous vehicles and how the service will work. The public will be able to see one of the vehicles up close at SouthWest Station during SouthWest Transit’s public shuttle service to the Minnesota State Fair at the end of August.

Media Contact:

Karsten Kutterer, Senior Communications Manager at May Mobility
734-369-8874 ext. 1343
media@maymobility.com

Allie Potter, Skyya PR for May Mobility
218-766-8856
maymobility@skyya.com

Erica Schulte King, Director of Marketing at SouthWest Transit
952-974-3110
eking@swtransit.org

About May Mobility

May Mobility develops autonomous driving (AD) technology and deploys fleets of vehicles to municipal and business customers as part of its mission to make cities safer, greener and more accessible. Its Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) system sets it apart in the AV space. MPDM analyzes thousands of potential scenarios every second, enabling it to quickly make safe maneuvers even in newly experienced situations. MPDM’s proven track record has delivered more than 350,000 autonomous rides to date in public transit applications across the U.S. and Japan. By forming key strategic partnerships with top-class automotive and technology companies, such as Toyota Motor Corporation and NTT, May Mobility is successfully improving transportation across the globe. For more information, visit www.maymobility.com.

About SouthWest Transit

SouthWest Transit is an award-winning transit agency serving the SouthWest Twin Cities area through fixed route transportation, microtransit, and shuttle services. The agency is committed to serving the needs of their customers through diverse and innovative transit solutions that build the community and connect customers from where they are to where they want to go. Visit www.swtransit.org for more information, and follow along on LinkedIn.

Executive Teams L – R:

SouthWest Transit:
Stephanie Alexander, Director of Operations
Maria Mancilla-Diaz, Chief Administrative Officer
Erica Schulte King, Director of Marketing
Erik Hansen, CEO

May Mobility:
Edwin Olson, CEO and Co-Founder
Manik Dhar, Chief Commercial Officer
Daisy Wall, Senior Director of Government Business

Executive Team Photo.