For a quarter-century, Beverley Miller has guided the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) as the organization's first — and only — executive director. During her tenure, the south-of-the-river bus service has seen annual ridership nearly quadruple. In 2014, Miller led the MVTA through a merger with the cities of Prior Lake and Shakopee to become an agency serving seven cities.
Miller will retire this week and her replacement hasn't yet been named. She shared some of her parting thoughts in this edited conversation.
Q: You've spent your entire career working in transit. Why do you like it?
A: Well, I believe in it. I believe people need alternatives. Not everybody has access to a car all the time.
Q: What have been the biggest changes in 25 years of transit and MVTA?
A: When we started, I think there was the myth that people in suburban areas didn't want to use transit, or there wasn't a need. When I came, the cities got behind the initiative and here we are today, 25 years later, with nearly 10 times the number of trips [each day] and just under 3 million rides annually. I think it's part of the culture change as well, where young people want to stay mobile but they don't necessarily want to drive. Some ride the bus or the train, or they bicycle.
Q: As you look back, has anything MVTA has done been especially challenging or controversial?
A: I think 25 years from now, funding will still be a challenge. Putting together the park-and-rides — those are always challenging, too. In the first few years, there was a real need. It became apparent right away in Burnsville and Apple Valley. People were parking on streets and side roads, and the neighbors were mad because they didn't want a car parked in front of their house. We had to do something, so we began creating park-and-rides.
