The Minnesota Public Transit Association (MPTA) has named SouthWest Transit (SWT) the 2024 Transit System of the Year.

SouthWest Transit during MPTA award ceremony

The MPTA honor is presented annually to an organization that has demonstrated significant achievements in efficiency and effectiveness, including reports on ridership, cost, safety, innovation, maintenance proficiency and agency policy.

“We’re proud and humbled to receive this award among a room full of our fellow partners in transit,” said SouthWest Transit CEO Erik Hansen during Monday’s MPTA award ceremony. “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 has expanded its shuttle service to include rides to a wider variety of events, diversifying its service offerings to further meet the needs of the community. Next month, SouthWest Transit is launching a fleet of autonomous vehicles into their SouthWest Prime on-demand rideshare service, a first for the Twin Cities metro area.

In early 2025, plans call for expanded service along the I-494 corridor.