Northstar Link Holiday Service Schedule

Northstar Link Commuter Bus will not operate on the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays and will not have afternoon service on Christmas Eve.

Complete schedule information is available at www.CatchTheLink.com for the bus and www.metrotransit.org/northstar for the train.

Northstar Link Schedule

Thanksgiving DayThursday, November 28No service
Black FridayFriday, November 29Regular service
Christmas EveTuesday, December 24No 887 afternoon service
Christmas DayWednesday, December 25No service
New Year’s EveTuesday, December 31Regular
New Year’s DayWednesday, January 1No service

Northstar Link announces additional weekday service, changes to schedule effective October 2

Effective Monday, October 2 Northstar Link will begin additional morning and evening weekday service in conjunction with Metro Transit service changes for Northstar Rail, Route 888. The current service schedule will also be altered.
Route 887F is not operating at this time. Northstar Link will not serve Vikings or Twins games.
Complete schedule information is available at www.CatchTheLink.com for the bus and www.metrotransit.org/northstar for the train.

 

Northstar Link detours

Beginning at 5 AM on Thursday, August 24 Northstar Link will be on detour due to road construction. This detour is expected to last until Friday, August 25.

887 OUTBOUND DETOUR-begins at 2nd St SE and Sherburne Ave

  • Left on Sherburne Ave
  • Right on Central Ave
  • Right on Rolling Ridge Rd
  • Left at the “T” staying on Rolling ridge Rd
  • Left on Hwy 10 Eastbound-resume route

Free Rides for Vets and Military on Veterans Day

In honor of their service, all Veterans and active military ride free with a military ID on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11. All veterans and active military members to enjoy free rides on Northstar Link and all Metro Bus services. Fixed RouteConneX and Dial-a-Ride. Customers must show their military ID upon boarding.

Northstar Link honors the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to protect our country! We are proud to employ many veterans and active-duty military members as well as military spouses and to provide service for veterans throughout our community.

Service-connected veterans also receive free rides on Fixed Route buses every day with proper identification.

Complete schedule is available at www.CatchTheLink.com/schedules/ for the bus and www.metrotransit.org/northstar for the train.

Federal public transportation mask mandate ended

Due to a court ruling on Monday, April 18, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) January 29, 2021 Order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at public transportation hubs is no longer in effect. Effective immediately, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not enforce its mask-related security directives.
With the order lifted, Metro Bus customers are no longer required to wear masks on buses or at facilities. The CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings.

Availability of New Northstar Link Fare Media

On Friday, October 1, 2021, Northstar Link will resume charging fares for all transportation services.

When fares resume, Northstar Link will be implementing new fareboxes and fare payment options including a new smart card and mobile app, known as the Metro Bus Smart Ride Card and Metro Bus Smart Ride App respectively. Northstar Link is operated by Metro Bus.

Effective Wednesday, September 8, the new Smart Ride Cards and the Smart Ride App will be available to the public online and at select outlets.

The Smart Ride App will be available on the App Store for iPhone users and Google Play for Android users by searching for “Smart Ride.” The Smart Ride App can be used to purchase 31-Day Passes for Northstar Link. Customers can board buses using the Smart Ride App with a 31-Day Pass. Learn more at catchthelink.com/smart-ride/.

Customers can purchase Smart Ride Cards with passes or Stored Value on them online at smartridecard.com. Shipping and handling fees apply and customers can expect to receive their Smart Ride Card in five to seven business days. Customers can also register their Smart Ride Cards online through the same portal to protect their passes and value against loss, theft or damage of their Smart Ride Card. All sales are final and value can only be transferred to a new card if the original was registered.

Smart Ride Cards will also be available at select partner outlets throughout the service area beginning September 8. Pass outlets will be selling pre-loaded Smart Ride Cards with $25 of Stored Value on them which can be used to pay fares on Northstar Link as well as any Metro Bus services. Additional pass outlets may be added at a later date. Locations include:

Beginning Sunday, September 19, customers will be able to purchase Smart Ride Cards with value and/or passes at the Metro Bus Transit Center located at 510 1st St. S in downtown St. Cloud via the Ticket Vending Machine or the customer service counter. Customers will also be able to exchange unused passes, tokens and change cards at the Transit Center daily from 9 AM to 2 PM, including weekends, through October 16. Smart Ride Cards will also be free during this time. All previous fare media will be transferred over to Smart Cards, including partial ride passes and 31-Day Passes activated on or after March 17, 2020.

The option to exchange passes, tokens and change cards will last until Saturday, October 16, after which Smart Ride Cards will cost $3 in addition to the cost of any passes or stored monetary value purchased to the card. All unused passes from prior to the implementation of the new fareboxes, tokens and change cards will be have no value after October 16. The new fareboxes will no longer offer change.

Customers can still pay their fare with cash but are encouraged to only use exact change. Fareboxes and Bus Operators are not able to give or make change.

Fares will not change for any Northstar Link services.

Northstar Link customers can visit the Metro Bus Mobility Training Center at 700 West. St. Germain in St. Cloud to try the new farebox or call the Mobility Training Center to schedule free travel training at 320.529.4487. Customers are also encouraged to visit catchthelink.com, follow Northstar Link on Facebook and Twitter and monitor communications onboard buses and at the Transit Center for updates and more information.

New fareboxes and fare payment options coming soon

Northstar Link is preparing for installation of new fareboxes for all buses in its fleet. The modern fareboxes will bring new ways for passengers to pay their fare. Touchless pay options will be available using the new Metro Bus Smart Ride Card and mobile phone application known as the Smart Ride App. Cash fares and Smart Ride Tickets for short-term use will also be available across all services.

The current Northstar Link fareboxes are over 20 years old. The new fareboxes, Smart Ride Cards and Smart Ride App will modernize the way Central Minnesotans are able to pay their bus fares. More information is available at https://www.ridemetrobus.com/home/smart-ride/.

The farebox transition will take place overnight on a weekend late in 2020. The date is yet to be determined. The date of the transition will be announced in the coming weeks. Service will not be interrupted for the transition.

We encourage customers to begin to use up their “old” fare media, including 31-Day Passes and 10-Ride Passes. The current passes will no longer be valid. Change cards will no longer be available or accepted after the transition.

Stay tuned to catchthelink.com and follow Northstar Link on Facebook and Twitter for more updates regarding the fare payment changes.

Service reduction effective Wednesday, March 25 to match Northstar Rail

As part of the nation-wide effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19, Northstar Link will reduce its schedule to match the Northstar Rail. There will be two southbound trips in the morning to meet the train along with two return trips northbound. There will also be two northbound trips in the evening after meeting the train as well as the two preceding southbound trips each afternoon to meet the train. There will not be Fabulous Friday (887F) or weekend service.

2020-03_NSL Reduced Service COVID-19_image_V2

We encourage customers to only make essential trips at this time. Reducing the number of people on buses will make it easier for passengers and employees to follow social distancing guidelines.

Stay tuned to this website and our social media accounts for more information and updates.

New Metro Bus privacy requirement may impact health care, residential care and social service providers

Northstar Link respects the privacy of our passengers. To protect their privacy, Northstar Link requires written authorization from passengers regarding who may communicate with Northstar Link on the passenger’s behalf. This requirement is effective May 1, 2019, and impacts all passenger communications discussion about issues or concerns.

How to provide authorization: Northstar Link is a service of St. Cloud Metro Bus service. The authorization is provided through the completion of the Metro Bus Passenger Release of Information form. This form  is available for everyone on the Northstar Link website. If the passenger has a legal guardian (Power of Attorney, Conservator, etc.) who is responsible for their well-being, proof of the legal guardianship is required.

Special Note for Caregivers, Health Care providers, Social Workers, Group Homes and Nursing Homes: This requirement impacts staff who set up rides for their patients/residents. In order for staff to talk about any issues with Northstar Link on behalf of the facilities’ clients, the facility or caregiver must be listed on the Passenger Release of Information form signed by the passenger or their legal guardian. Remember, if a legal guardian is authorizing, Northstar Link must have proof of the legal guardianship.

Download the form here: https://www.ridemetrobus.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Passenger-Release-of-Information-Authorization-Form.pdf