Transit services running on reduced schedules Friday

Several of the area's transit providers are running reduced service today as demand for rides on buses is expected to be down due to the holiday weekend.

Metro Transit says most routes will follow Saturday schedules with added trips during rush hour. Riders will pay $1.75 on local routes today as the Saturday fare schedule will be in place.

Express routes that don't normally operate on Saturdays will offer limited service

The Northstar Commuter line will run on a modified schedules. The Northstar Link from St. Cloud to the Big Lake Station will run on the following schedule:

Route 887

• Southbound trips leave St. Cloud Metro Bus Transit Center at 5:15, 6:15, 10:15* and 11:49 a.m. and 1:45 and 3:40 p.m. Those trips depart SCSU at 5:20, 6:20, 10:20* and 11:54 a.m. and 1:50 and 3:45 p.m., respectively (the trips then depart Northstar Link Park & Ride at 5:30, 6:30 and 10:30 a.m. and 12:09, 2:05 and 4:00 p.m., respectively).

• Northbound trips leave Big Lake Station at 6:15 and 7:20 a.m. and 1:00, 2:30*, 3:00 and 4:50 p.m.

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority says it will operate a reduced schedule on routes 460, 465 and 477. All other routes will operate according to their published schedules. Regular weekday fares will apply.

Southwest Transit will operate a normal weeday service on routes 680, 684, 690, 691, 692, 695 and 699. Regular weekday fares will apply. On route 698, the last westbound trip of the day will leave 3rd & Cedar at 5:59 p.m.

Maple Grove Transit will operate the following routes on Friday. Regular weekday fares will apply.

Route 781: Trips to downtown, leaving Maple Grove Transit Station at 5:49, 6:25, 6:57, 7:13, 7:25, 7:41, 7:58, 8:25 and 11:30 a.m.

Trips from downtown to the Maple Grove Transit Station, leaving 2nd Ave. S. & 10th St. at 12:16, 1:16, 2:16, 3:14, 3:45, 4:12, 4:46 , 5:11 and 6:06 p.m.

Shakopee Transit will offer a normal weekday service and regular weekday fares will apply.