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Policies

Disruptive Riders Policy

Click HERE to view the full policy PDF.

Adopted by the SouthWest Transit commission 2/20/25

SouthWest Transit’s Social Media Policy

SouthWest Transit’s presence on social media platforms creates a forum for conversations about issues that are important to customers. Social media allows SouthWest Transit to share information beyond the conventional web experience. However, SouthWest Transit encourages anyone interested in more information to visit its official website, www.swtransit.org.

SouthWest Transit’s use of social media is intended to encourage interaction between the user and SouthWest Transit. SouthWest Transit cannot verify or confirm the accuracy of user content or their compliance with the guidelines outlined here. SouthWest Transit does not endorse any of the views in content posted by users.

Privacy

SouthWest Transit’s social media accounts are not official SouthWest Transit websites, but instead consist of SouthWest Transit information posted on a third-party service provider’s platform. As such SouthWest Transit has limited control over how each platform uses personal data provided by users. Users are encouraged to read the privacy policy of each social media platform in advance of engaging with SouthWest Transit via these platforms.

SouthWest Transit recommends that users of social media platforms refrain from including personal information that they wish to remain confidential when interacting with SouthWest Transit’s social media accounts.

Data practices and records retention

Communications with SouthWest Transit are subject to Minn. Stat. Chapter 13, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. To the extent that any content on social media is government data, such data are transitory communications and will not be retained by SouthWest Transit.

Social media is not intended to be a method for the filing of complaints or for transaction of official business with SouthWest Transit.

Matters pertaining to official business should be addressed to SouthWest Transit by contacting SouthWest Transit directly at its business office located at 13500 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, MN.

Please Note: Content expressed by anyone other than SouthWest Transit on SouthWest Transit’s social media accounts does not reflect the opinions or positions of SouthWest Transit, its employees or elected officials. SouthWest Transit reserves the right to limit or remove content from its social media accounts.

Availability

SouthWest Transit’s social media accounts and updates are subject to downtime that may be out of its control, because social media servers are managed by a third party. SouthWest Transit accepts no responsibility for the networks becoming unresponsive or unavailable.

Accessibility

SouthWest Transit strives to post accessible content both on its web pages and social media accounts. SouthWest Transit uses YouTube’s built-in closed-captioning feature, which requires occasional editing for accuracy and clarity.

Content

SouthWest Transit’s social media accounts may contain a variety of content. The types of content that may be seen on various social media platforms include but are not limited to:

— Alerts about impending route or schedule changes
— Reminders about SouthWest Transit policies and practices
— News releases and links to stories about SouthWest Transit happenings at www.swtransit.org
— Information about public meetings
— Polls and opportunities to provide feedback on SouthWest Transit initiatives
— Shared content from other organizations that partner with SouthWest Transit
— Information about special events and promotions
— Related Photos and videos
— Shared content

SouthWest Transit may also occasionally share content from other social media users or websites, including following or liking other users or content and linking to other users, websites, or content.

Sharing such content is provided solely for the convenience of users and is intended to point users to additional information that may add perspective for users. SouthWest Transit is not responsible for the accuracy, currency, or reliability of this shared content. SouthWest Transit does not offer any guarantee in that regard and is not responsible for the information found through this shared content, nor does it explicitly or implicitly endorse the shared content.

SouthWest Transit’s content is also intended to be shared, and users are encouraged to share content they find relevant or interesting.

Comment policy

SouthWest Transit encourages members of the community to interact on issues of regional significance with SouthWest Transit, its members and staff, and one another via SouthWest Transit’s social media accounts. SouthWest Transit expects that users will interact in a respectful manner.

Users are fully responsible for anything they post, including links, videos/photos and other material. SouthWest Transit does not agree with or endorse content that users post on its social media accounts.

SouthWest Transit’s goal is to share ideas and information with as many individuals as possible and its policy is to accept the majority of content added by users.

However, comments may be removed and users blocked for the following behaviors:
— Threats of violence or other potentially criminal behavior
— Hate speech
— Profanity, obscenity or vulgarity
— Nudity in profile pictures
— Defamation to a person or people
— Name calling and/or personal attacks
— Comments specific to a person’s employment with SouthWest Transit that may be considered non-public information or — require further investigation
— Comments whose main purpose are to sell a product
— Comments that infringe on copyrights
— Spam comments, such as the same comment posted repeatedly on a profile
— Links to non-relevant sites (that could be construed as spam)
— Other comments that SouthWest Transit deems inappropriate

All content added by users may be reviewed and may be deleted.

Contact information

SouthWest Transit’s social media accounts are managed by its Marketing Department, which can be contacted at: marketing@swtransit.org.

WiFi Terms of use

This wireless network connection is a free service for use by customers of SouthWest Transit. By using this service, you agree to be bound by the following terms of use.

Acceptable usage

This service is provided for lawful, personal use only. You may not use it for any other reason or resell any aspect of this service. You must not use this service to transmit any material or perform any other action which would be in violation of any applicable law or regulation or the rights of any third party. Any use not authorized above is strictly prohibited.

SouthWest Transit shall have the right, but not the duty, to monitor, intercept, and disclose any transmissions over or using this service, and to provide user information, use records, and other related information to appropriate authorities under certain circumstances (for example, in response to lawful process, orders, subpoenas, or warrants, or to protect the interests of SouthWest Transit).

Warning

There are certain privacy and security risks inherent in the use of an open wireless network. You acknowledge that, by use of this service, your device could be exposed to viruses or other harmful applications and that your device or files could be accessed or monitored by third parties. You acknowledge that you are solely responsible for providing security measures that are suited to your intended use of the service. SouthWest Transit does not guarantee the security of this service or the privacy of any data.

Content filtering

SouthWest Transit may implement URL filtering or other content filtering services which block access to certain websites or content through the service (“Content Filtering”). SouthWest Transit is not liable to you for any acts, omissions, performance or non-performance, related to the content filtering.

Examples of content that Content Filtering may block, includes, without limitation, content that:

  • Could cause SouthWest Transit to be in breach of any federal or state law, rule, regulation, code or instrument which governs its conduct or to incur a liability to any third person or entity;
  • Could interfere with the integrity and/or performance of the service or SouthWest Transit’s other networks or equipment;
  • Depicts, alludes to or promotes offensive or illegal behavior;
  • Is patently offensive or promotes racism, sexism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm of any kind against any group or individual;
  • Harasses or advocates harassment of another person;
  • Exploits people in a sexual or violent manner;
  • Contains nudity, violence, or offensive subject matter or which may contain links to adult websites;
  • Promotes conduct that is abusive, threatening, obscene, defamatory or libelous;
  • Promotes an illegal or unauthorized copy of another person’s copyrighted work (including but not limited to file sharing applications, or any other Bit-Torrent or peer-to-peer applications);
  • Involves the transmission of “junk mail,” “chain letters,” or unsolicited mass mailing, instant messaging or “spamming”;
  • Furthers or promotes any criminal activity or enterprise or provides instructional information about illegal activities including, but not limited to making or buying illegal weapons, violating someone’s privacy, or providing or creating computer viruses;
  • Contains any viruses, Trojan horses, worms, time bombs, cancelbots, Easter eggs or other computer programming routines that may damage, modify, delete, detrimentally interfere with, surreptitiously intercept, access without authority, or expropriate any system, data or personal information;
  • Uses sexually suggestive imagery or any other inappropriate, misleading or deceptive content;
  • Netflix, Pandora, iTunes, Amazon.com streaming services, Rhapsody, cloud streaming services, and other applications, Internet portals, or websites that require significant streaming of data;
  • High bandwidth operations, such as large file transfers, application installs or operating system updates and patches.
Disclaimer

SouthWest Transit does not make any warranties or guarantees regarding this service or any content or information accessed by use of this service. THIS SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS, AND YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. SOUTHWEST TRANSIT HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NONINFRINGMENT AND TITLE, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE, OR TRADE PRACTICE. SOUTHWEST TRANSIT DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL PERFORM AT A PARTICULAR SPEED OR THAT IT WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE.

Limitation of Liability

You acknowledge and agree that SOUTHWEST TRANSIT SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR IN ANY WAY INVOLVING USE OF THIS SERVICE, unless the claim directly results from an intentional, willful, or wanton act by SouthWest Transit. ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR NEGLIGENCE IN PROVIDING OR SECURING THIS SERVICE IS EXPRESSLY PRECLUDED. SOUTHWEST TRANSIT SHALL NOT BE LIABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, OR LOST PROFITS, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR UNFORESEEABLE, THAT ARISE OUT OF, RELATE TO, OR IN ANY WAY INVOLVE USE OF THIS SERVICE.

Indemnification

You agree to hold harmless and indemnify SouthWest Transit from and against any third party claim arising from, related to, or in any way involving your use of this service, including any liability, losses, damages (actual and consequential), suits, judgments, litigation costs, and attorney fees, of any kind or nature.

SouthWest Transit Policy Manual – Title VI

The Title VI Plan outlines SouthWest Transit’s commitment to Fairness and Equality.
SouthWest Transit’s Title VI Complaint Form can be downloaded for printing.

Mobile Fare App Privacy Policy

Effective date: August 2019

SouthWest Transit (“us”, “we”, or “our”) operates services that include express bus service, on-demand microtransit service including SW Prime and SW Prime MD, the www.swtransit.org website, and mobile applications (the “Services”).

This Privacy Policy informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of your data when you use any of our Services and the choices you have associated with that data.

By using any of the Services, you agree to the collection, use, and transfer of your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Types of data collected

Personal data

While using our Services, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you (“Personal Data”). Personal Data may include, but is not limited to:

Email address
— First name and last name
— Phone number
— Address, State, Province, ZIP/Postal code, City
— Cookies and Usage Data
— Location information

Usage data

We may also collect information that your browser sends whenever you visit our Services or when you access the Services by or through a mobile device (“Usage Data”).

This Usage Data may include information such as your computer’s or mobile device’s IP address, operating system, browser type, browser version, the pages of our Services that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, device type, unique device identifiers, and other diagnostic data.

Tracking and cookies data

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Services and hold certain information.

Cookies are files with small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. Tracking technologies also used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyze our Services.

You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Services.

Examples of cookies we use:

  • Session cookies. We use session cookies to operate our services. Session cookies contain information regarding a particular session in which the services are being used, and all information in a session cookies is lost when the web browser is closed.
  • Preference cookies. We use preference cookies to remember your preferences and various settings.
  • Security cookies. We use security cookies for security purposes.
Payment data

When you use a credit card to pay for the Services, a third party that handles payments for us will receive your card information. To keep your payment data secure, we do not store full credit card information on our servers.

Use of data

We use the data we collect to:

— Provide, maintain, improve, expand, and promote the Services;
— Notify you about changes to our Services;
— Allow you to participate in interactive or personalized features of our Services when you choose to do so;
— Provide you with customer care and support;
— Analyze how the SouthWest Transit community uses the Services, so that we can improve the Services;
— Detect, prevent, and address technical issues;
— Facilitate transactions and payments;
— Find and prevent fraud; and
— Respond to trust and safety issues that may arise.

Transfer of data

Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from your jurisdiction.

If you are located outside United States and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including Personal Data, to the United States and process it there.

Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer.

SouthWest Transit will take all steps reasonably necessary to so that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your data and other personal information.

Disclosure of data

SouthWest Transit may disclose your personal data in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to:

— Comply with a legal obligation;
— Protect and defend the rights or property of SouthWest Transit;
— Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Services;
— Protect the personal safety of users of the Services or the public; or
— Protect against legal liability.

Security of data

We are committed to protecting the data of the SouthWest Transit community. Even though we take reasonable precautions to protect your data, no security measures can be 100% effective, and we cannot guarantee the security of your data.

Services providers

We may employ third-party companies and individuals to facilitate our Services (“Services Providers”), to provide the Services on our behalf, to perform Service-related support or to assist us in analyzing how our Services are used.

These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

Links to other sites

Our services may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the privacy policy of every site you visit.

We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

Children’s privacy

Our services do not address anyone under the age of 18 (“Children”).

We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from any children. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your Children have provided us with Personal Data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from children without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.

Changes to this privacy policy

We may update our privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.

We will let you know via email and/or a prominent notice on our services, prior to the change becoming effective and update the “effective date” at the top of this privacy policy.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us:

By email: customerservice@swtransit.org
By phone number: 952-949-2287
By mail: 14405 West 62nd Street, Eden Prairie, MN 55346

SouthWest Transit’s Political Campaigning Policy

While soliciting is not permitted on SouthWest Transit property, SouthWest Transit does permit candidates to meet and/or introduce themselves to their constituents on our property, as is their right.

SouthWest Transit staff is not permitted to get involved with any candidates during work hours, included but not limited to setting up any informational displays and/or tables or agreeing to hand out any literature on behalf of a candidate.

An “expect the best” partnership

SouthWest Transit is committed to an “Expect the Best” service level in the transit and coach travel provided to our communities and riders. The Expectations set out below are intended to clarify what “Expect the Best” means to the SouthWest Transit Riders, Staff, and Commission. However, as every Rider knows, excellent service delivery requires more than just dedicated staff and employees. Even when service is on time and clean, Riders make the difference between whether a trip is merely tolerable or truly pleasant and stress free. To this end, the Rider Advisory Committee, SouthWest Transit Staff, and SouthWest Transit Commissioners ask the Riders to support this “Expect the Best” partnership by honoring the Rider Responsibilities to the same high degree that SouthWest Transit is devoted to delivering and exceeding Rider daily expectations for safe, reliable, affordable, and comfortable service.

Rider expectations:
  • To receive prompt and courteous information from staff, phone services, and web-based portals to their questions about current routes, schedules, and services provided by SouthWest Transit.
  • To find facilities well marked in terms of location, entrance, egress, and services.
  • To find facilities that are clean, well-lit, safe, and inviting.
  • To find vehicles that are clean (inside and out) and properly marked for their destinations.
  • Drivers who are safe, pleasant, courteous, and professional in all other respects.
  • An on-time ride with clear announcements about the route, scheduled stops, and connections to other mass transit routes.
  • When service is delayed, access to real-time service information when off the bus. On the bus, drivers will keep riders informed of their safe and timely responses taken to route delays and variances.
  • To receive prompt and courteous responses to suggestions for service changes and improvements.
  • Thorough evaluation and prompt response by SouthWest staff to rider complaints.
  • Mobility impaired passengers and others with special needs will be made to feel welcome consistent with the physical capabilities of the facilities, equipment, and staff.
  • Prior to significant service changes being made, the public will be given the opportunity to review suggested changes and provide comment before any final decisions are made.
  • All overload situations will be addressed within 5 occurrences, which means passengers should rarely have to stand on any SouthWest Transit bus.
Rider responsibilities:
  • Treat SouthWest staff, contractors, service providers, and fellow passengers with the same level of politeness and courtesy as you would expect from them.
  • Allow senior citizens, disabled persons, and persons with service animals to occupy space at the front of the coach or where seats are specially marked.
  • Refrain from making cell phone calls in the “Quiet Zone”. In areas where cell phones are permitted, keep calls short and quiet.
  • Honor bus driver requests when made in the interest of safety or the needs of others.
  • Be considerate of the person in the seat behind you when using the seat-recline feature.
  • Do not occupy more than one seat when others need seating. During peak times, place parcels and purses in the overhead rack or on your lap; not in the aisle or in the seat beside you.
  • Riders with backpacks or large shoulder bags are encouraged to carry them down the coach aisle.
  • Be ready to board or exit several minutes before the posted departure or arrival times.
  • At station stops, standees have priority for leaving the bus. All other riders are encouraged to exit from front to rear of the coach.
  • Leave your seat, vent, drink holder, and lighting as you would like to find them.
  • Use headphones at volume levels that do not disturb those around you.
  • Share your ideas about the service (improvements or critiques) with Customer Service. Help improve services by participating in rider surveys and committees.
  • Food and beverages must be kept in a covered container. Please be respectful of your fellow riders and clean up after yourself.
  • SouthWest Transit reserves the right to deny service to any passenger who is intoxicated or in violation of SouthWest Transit’s Rider Responsibility Policy.
SouthWest Transit data practices policy for the public

Minnesota Statutes, sections 13.025 and 13.03 require this policy

Your right to see public data

The Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13) presumes that all government data are public unless a state or federal law says the data are not public. Government data means all recorded information a government entity has, including paper, email, flash drives, CDs, DVDs, photographs, etc.
The law also says that SouthWest Transit must keep all government data in a way that makes it easy for you to access public data. You have the right to look at (inspect), free of charge, all public data that we keep. You also have the right to get copies of public data. The Data Practices Act allows us to charge for copies. You have the right to look at data, free of charge, before deciding to request copies.

How to request public data

You can ask to look at (inspect) data at our offices, or ask for copies of public data that we keep.
Make a written request via email to SouthWest Transit’s Responsible Authority by using the data request form found below. If you do not use the data request form, your request should:

Say that you are making a request for public data under the Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13).
Include whether you would like to inspect the data, have copies of the data, or both.
Provide a clear description of the data you would like to inspect or have copied.

How we will respond to your data request

Upon receiving your request, we will review it.

We may ask you to clarify what data you are requesting.
If we do not have the data, we will notify you in writing within 10 business days.
If we have the data, but we are not allowed to give it to you, we will tell you as soon as reasonably possible and identify the law that prevents us from providing the data.
If we have the data, and the data are public, we will respond to your request appropriately and promptly, within a reasonable amount of time by doing one of the following:
Arrange a date, time, and place for you to inspect the data at our offices; or
We will provide notice to you about our requirement to prepay for copies.
You may choose to pick up your copies, or we will mail or email them to you. We will provide electronic copies (such as email or CD-ROM) upon request, if we keep the data in that format and we can reasonably make a copy.
Response time may be impacted by the size and/or complexity of your request, and also by the number of requests you make in a given period of time.
Following our response, if you do not make arrangements within 5 business days to inspect the data or pay for the copies, we will conclude that you no longer want the data and will consider your request closed.

If you do not understand some of the data (technical terminology, abbreviations, or acronyms), please tell the person who provided the data to you. We will give you an explanation if you ask.

The Data Practices Act does not require us to create or collect new data in response to a data request, or to provide data in a specific form or arrangement if we do not keep the data in that form or arrangement. For example, if the data you request are on paper only, we are not required to create electronic documents to respond to your request. If we agree to create data in response to your request, we will work with you on the details of your request, including cost and response time.

We are also not required to respond to questions that are not about your data requests, or requests for government data.
You are not required to identify yourself or explain the reason for your data request. However, you may need to provide us with some personal information for practical reasons (for example: if you want us to mail copies to you, you need to provide us with an address or P.O Box). If we do not understand your request and have no way to contact you, we cannot respond to your request.

Requests for summary data

Summary data are statistical records or reports created by removing identifying information about individuals from entirely private or confidential data. We will prepare summary data if you make your request in writing and pay for the cost of creating the data. You may use the data request form below to request summary data. We will respond to your request within ten business days with the data or details of when the data will be ready and how much we will charge you.

Data practices contacts

Responsible Authority
Name: Erik Hansen
Address: 14405 West 62nd Street, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
Email address: datarequest@swtransit.org

Data Practices Compliance Official
Name: Erik Hansen
Address: 14405 West 62nd Street, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
Email address: datarequest@swtransit.org

Data Practices Designee
Name: Maria Mancilla-Diaz
Address: 14405 West 62nd Street, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
Email address: datarequest@swtransit.org

Copy costs – data subjects

Minnesota Statutes, section 13.04, subdivision 3 allows us to charge for copies.
You must pay for the copies before we will give them to you.
We do not charge for copies if the cost is less than $2.00.

Actual cost of making the copies

We will charge the actual cost of making copies for data about you. In determining the actual cost, we include the employee-time to create and send the copies, the cost of the materials onto which we are copying the data (paper, CD, DVD, etc.), and mailing costs such as postage (if any).
If your request is for copies of data that we cannot copy ourselves, such as photographs, we will charge you the actual cost we must pay an outside vendor for the copies. The cost of employee time to make copies is $35.34 per hour.

Standards for verifying identity

The following constitute proof of identity:
An adult individual must provide a valid photo ID, such as

  • a driver’s license
  • a state-issued ID
  • a tribal ID
  • a military ID
  • a passport
  • the foreign equivalent of any of the above
A minor individual must provide a valid photo ID, such as
  • a driver’s license
  • a state-issued ID (including a school/student ID)
  • a tribal ID
  • a military ID
  • a passport
  • the foreign equivalent of any of the above
The parent or guardian of a minor must provide a valid photo ID and either
  • a certified copy of the minor’s birth certificate or
  • a certified copy of documents that establish the parent or guardian’s relationship to the child, such as
  • a court order relating to divorce, separation, custody, foster care
  • a foster care contract
  • an affidavit of parentage

The legal guardian for an individual must provide a valid photo ID and a certified copy of appropriate documentation of formal or informal appointment as guardian, such as
court order(s)
valid power of attorney

Note: Individuals who do not inspect data or pick up copies of data in person may be required to provide either notarized or certified copies of the documents that are required or an affidavit of ID.

SWT Data Practices Policy for Data Subjects Printable PDF

Email Data Request Form – Data Subject
To request data as a data subject, you must show a valid government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, military ID, or passport as proof of identity.

Email Data Request Form

We will respond to your request within 10 business days.

Interested in advertising with SouthWest Transit?

SouthWest Transit has a no solicitation policy. Unauthorized items posted on buses, at stations, or elsewhere on SouthWest Transit property will be promptly removed.

All requests for advertising on our buses or at our stations should be sent to The OOH Squad.