Minnesota Valley Transit Authority buses began serving the new Rosemount Transit Station last week, but the agency the provides transit services in the south metro will officially declare the facility open during a celebration from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday.

A brass quintent composed of students from Rosemount High School will play during a ribbon cutting at the station at 14550 Burnley Avenue. Rosemount Mayor William Droste, Dakota County Commissioner Tom Egan and Metropolitan Council representative Wendy Wulff will speak as part of the festivities.

The new $1.2 million station has a building that has restrooms and will be heated and cooled. It also has a canopy for those who wish to wait outside.

The facility with room for 102 vehicles replaces the temporary park and ride lot at the nearby Rosemount Community Center.

Three buses providing express service to Minneapolis will operate in the morning and four return trips will be offered on weekdays. Flex Route 420, which operates all day between Rosemount and Apple Valley, will serve the station.

Additional service to Minneapolis could be added in 2013 with the help of a federal grant. MVTA also is trying to secure funding to increase service to St. Paul, a spokeswoman for the transit agency said.