Take me out to the ballgame
Metro Transit provides Twins fans with options for getting to Target Field
With the Minnesota Twins home opener set for April 12, baseball fans are marking the days before they can watch their team in action at the new ballpark, located in the Warehouse District in downtown Minneapolis.
Target Field is about 12 blocks away from the Metrodome, the former home of the Twins. That means some fans may need to learn new ways of reaching the ballpark as the season gets underway.
This spring, Metro Transit is partnering with the Twins organization, the Minnesota Ballpark Authority, Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis and others to provide coordinated transportation services and an information campaign to ensure Twin fans have a pleasant experience getting to Target Field.
Advice to fans: Plan ahead and use transit
Taking transit to the ballpark is a key message of the new information campaign.
“Target Field is among the most multi-modal, transit-oriented ballparks in America,” said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb. “Target Field Station was built as part of the ballpark and is served by both Hiawatha light rail (LRT) and Northstar commuter rail trains.”
Fans who were accustomed to taking LRT to the Metrodome from the south will simply stay on the train for a few more stops to get to Target Field. Metro Transit also will provide Northstar service to 53 home games this season. A family roundtrip pass on the commuter rail line from any suburban station will be available for two adults and up to three children age 6-12 (children 5 and under travel free). Prices range from $8 to $17 based on distance traveled.
Twins fans can take Hiawatha light rail and Northstar commuter rail straight to Target Field Station.
In addition, more than a dozen bus routes stop near Target Field, including the new Twins Express (Route 679), which will provide service to all home games, including the Twins exhibition games on April 2-3. Twins Express buses will travel from the I-394/County Road 73 park-and-ride ramp to Ramp A/7th Street Transit Center, just steps from Target Field.
“Downtown Minneapolis is a great place to take in a game, but we’re encouraging fans to plan ahead and use transit to avoid heavy traffic and parking headaches,” Lamb said.
New website helps public with options
Metro Transit is planning a marketing campaign to showcase all the transportation choices to Target Field, including taking the bus or train, biking, walking, carpooling or vanpooling. Fans can visit www.metrotransit.org/twins to start looking at their options.
Another resource is www.destinationtargetfield.com, which also includes information about getting to Target Field.