METRO BUS
METRO BUS is a Minnesota public transit authority operating 16 fixed bus routes and Dial-a-Ride paratransit service across St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, and Waite Park. It serves commuters, students, seniors, and individuals with disabilities with a $23.5M annual operating budget.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersSaint Cloud, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
METRO BUS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- METRO BUS
- Legal name
- St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission
- Website
- https://ridemetrobus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- METRO BUS is a Minnesota public transit authority operating 16 fixed bus routes and Dial-a-Ride paratransit service across St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, and Waite Park. It serves commuters, students, seniors, and individuals with disabilities with a $23.5M annual operating budget.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
METRO BUS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Transit Services
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Suburban/Regional Commuter Bus Operators (TLAFAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Park-and-Ride / Express Commuter Bus Operators (TLAFAGAF)
Keywords
Where METRO BUS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Cloud
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
METRO BUS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fixed Route Fares: Single ride cash fare of $1.25, 10-Ride Pass for $10.50, 1-Day Pass for $4.25, 7-Day Pass for $17, and 31-Day Pass for $47. Revenue from passenger fares on 16 fixed bus routes.
- Dial-a-Ride Fares: Single ride fare of $2.50 for paratransit service for individuals with disabilities. 31-Day Pass available for $75.
- U-Pass Program: Partnership with St. Cloud State University and St. Cloud Technical & Community College providing free rides for students with valid campus ID. Revenue from institutional subsidies.
- Advertising: Transit advertising on bus exteriors and interiors, bus shelters, and benches. Sold through Houck Transit Advertising.
- Federal and State Grants: FTA grants and public transit funding. Received $14 million FTA grant. Annual operating budget of $23.5 million (FY 2025).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Fixed Route Single Ride - $1.25 cash fare |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Fixed Route 10-Ride Pass - $10.50 |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Fixed Route 1-Day Pass - $4.25 |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Fixed Route 7-Day Pass - $17 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Fixed Route 31-Day Pass - $47 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Dial-a-Ride Single Ride - $2.50 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Dial-a-Ride 31-Day Pass - $75 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Reduced Fare - $0.60 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Smart Ride Card - $3 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
METRO BUS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
METRO BUS operates 16 fixed bus routes and Dial-a-Ride paratransit services serving St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, and Waite Park in Minnesota. The agency sells passenger fares (single rides, multi-day passes), reloadable Smart Ride Cards, mobile ticketing through the Smart Ride App, and offers subsidized programs including U-Pass for college students and U-Go Free summer youth rides.
Product overview
Metro Bus is a public transit agency operated by the St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission, providing fixed route bus service, paratransit (Dial-a-Ride), and travel training programs. The core offering consists of 16 Fixed Routes serving four cities, supplemented by ADA-compliant Dial-a-Ride paratransit for qualifying individuals. Supporting services include the Smart Ride App for mobile trip planning and fare purchasing, the Smart Ride Card for stored value and pass management, U-Pass Ride Program for university students, and free Travel Training including use of the Mobility Training Center. Fare products include single rides, 10-Ride Passes, 1-Day, 7-Day, and 31-Day passes for Fixed Route and Dial-a-Ride services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- U-Pass Ride Program: Program allowing St. Cloud State University and St. Cloud Technical College students to ride fixed routes with valid student ID
- U-Go Free Summer Youth Program
- Smart Ride App
- Smart Ride Card
- Freedom Card
Products and services
- Fixed Route Bus Service 16 local bus routes connecting St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, and Waite Park with 700+ signed bus stops, running as early as 5 AM and as late as 10:43 PM weekdays. Operated by St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission.
- Dial-a-Ride Paratransit Service
Quantifiable outcome
- 98.4% CNG fleet reducing environmental impact
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use METRO BUS
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
METRO BUS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature5 records
METRO BUS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Minnesota LegislaturecoreCreated the St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission (Metro Bus) in 1969 to operate as a Transit Authority. Establishes Metro Bus as the public transportation provider for the St. Cloud area.
- St. Cloud State UniversitycoreU-Pass Ride Program allows students to ride free on all Metro Bus Fixed Routes with valid campus ID. Metro Bus provides direct service via Routes 5, 8, 11, and 12.
- St. Cloud Technical & Community CollegecoreU-Pass Ride Program allows students to ride free on all Metro Bus Fixed Routes with valid campus ID. Metro Bus provides direct service via Routes 1, 2, 4, 31, and 33.
- Jefferson LinescoreIntercity bus service provider with local stop at Metro Bus Transit Center. Provides connections to destinations throughout the country's heartland.
- Northstar LinkminorCommuter bus service connecting St. Cloud area to Big Lake and Northstar Rail. Available from Transit Center, eastside Park & Ride Lot, and SCSU Miller Center. Fare: $2 one-way.
- FlixBusminorIntercity bus service pickup location at Metro Bus Transit Center.
- City of St. CloudcoreOne of four cities served. Represented by two members on Metro Bus Board of Commissioners.
- City of SartellcoreOne of four cities served. Represented by one member on Metro Bus Board of Commissioners.
- City of Sauk RapidscoreOne of four cities served. Represented by one member on Metro Bus Board of Commissioners.
- City of Waite ParkcoreOne of four cities served. Represented by one member on Metro Bus Board of Commissioners.
- American Public Transportation Association (APTA)minorMember organization providing industry standards, advocacy, and networking for public transportation agencies.
- Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)minorMember organization supporting community transportation. Awarded Metro Bus Urban Transportation System of the Year in 2014.
- Minnesota Public Transit Association (MPTA)minorState association for public transit. Awarded Metro Bus Management Innovation Award and MN Transit System of the Year in 2015.
- Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)minorState transportation agency. Participated in groundbreaking ceremony for new transit facility in May 2025.
- Oertel ArchitectsminorArchitecture firm involved in the Western Transit Center construction project.
- KNB ContractingminorContracting firm involved in the Western Transit Center construction project.
- Coborn's Grocery StoresminorTicket outlet locations in St. Cloud (Cooper location), Sartell (Pinecone), and Sauk Rapids. Also sell preloaded Smart Ride Cards with $25 Stored Value.
- Cash Wise FoodsminorTicket outlet locations in St. Cloud (East) and Waite Park. Also sell preloaded Smart Ride Cards.
- Lunds & ByerlysminorTicket outlet selling preloaded Smart Ride Cards with $25 Stored Value.
- Houck Transit AdvertisingminorAdvertising sales partner for transit advertising on bus exteriors, interiors, shelters, and benches.
- St. Cloud Area Chamber of CommerceminorCommunity business organization member.
- St. Cloud Downtown CouncilminorCommunity organization member representing downtown St. Cloud area.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
METRO BUS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rochester Public Transit: Minnesota municipal transit system providing fixed routes and Dial-a-Ride paratransit in Rochester, MN — same state regulatory environment and similar operational scope to Metro Bus.
- Spokane Transit Authority: Mid-sized municipal transit authority operating fixed-route and paratransit across the Spokane metro — directly comparable in service mix, ridership scale, and multi-city governance to Metro Bus.
- Fargo-Moorhead Metro Area Transit (MATBUS): Regional transit authority providing fixed-route service across the Fargo-Moorhead metro, with similar cross-jurisdictional governance model and comparable ridership scale to Metro Bus.
- Mankato Transit System: Small-city Minnesota transit system offering fixed-route and paratransit — comparable in operational scale and governance structure to Metro Bus's four-city service.
- Citibus (Lubbock): Mid-sized Texas municipal transit system providing fixed-route bus and paratransit services — comparable in operational scope and small/mid-metro ridership scale to Metro Bus.
- Madison Metro Transit: Mid-sized municipal transit system operating fixed routes and paratransit in Madison, WI — comparable urban transit operations with a university ridership anchor similar to Metro Bus's U-Pass model.
- Duluth Transit Authority: Operates fixed-route buses and paratransit service across Duluth, Minnesota, with similar mid-sized municipal transit authority structure and 4-city-equivalent service area footprint — directly comparable in scale and service mix to Metro Bus.
- Lane Transit District: Special district transit authority serving Eugene-Springfield metro with fixed-route bus and paratransit services — comparable in district governance model and mid-sized operational footprint.
- Cherriots (Salem Area Mass Transit District): Oregon special district transit agency operating fixed-route buses and paratransit — structurally and operationally analogous to Metro Bus as a mid-sized municipal transit authority.
Broad incumbents
- Metro Transit (Minneapolis–Saint Paul): Larger Minnesota regional transit authority operating buses, light rail, and commuter rail across the Twin Cities — overlapping capability space but at substantially greater scale; useful as an upper-bound comparable for Metro Bus's operational model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
METRO BUS social profiles
Digital presenceMETRO BUS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
METRO BUS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
METRO BUS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
METRO BUS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
METRO BUS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about METRO BUS
What does METRO BUS do?
METRO BUS operates 16 fixed bus routes and Dial-a-Ride paratransit services serving St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, and Waite Park in Minnesota. The agency sells passenger fares (single rides, multi-day passes), reloadable Smart Ride Cards, mobile ticketing through the Smart Ride App, and offers subsidized programs including U-Pass for college students and U-Go Free summer youth rides.
Is METRO BUS a public or private company?
METRO BUS is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was METRO BUS founded?
METRO BUS was founded in 1969. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is METRO BUS based?
METRO BUS is headquartered in Saint Cloud, United States, in the North America region.
How does METRO BUS make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Fixed Route Fares are the primary driver. The others are dial-a-Ride Fares, U-Pass Program, advertising and federal and State Grants.
Who are METRO BUS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rochester Public Transit, Spokane Transit Authority, Fargo-Moorhead Metro Area Transit (MATBUS), Mankato Transit System, Citibus (Lubbock), Madison Metro Transit, Duluth Transit Authority, Lane Transit District and Cherriots (Salem Area Mass Transit District). Metro Transit (Minneapolis–Saint Paul) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does METRO BUS have an API?
No public API is recorded for METRO BUS.
What industry is METRO BUS in?
METRO BUS's product category is Public Transit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAGAC, Suburban/Regional Commuter Bus Operators, with a secondary code of TLAFAGAF, Park-and-Ride / Express Commuter Bus Operators. Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.