6845 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center
Description: Martin J. Ruter Garage opened in 1975 in an unused manufacturing building that was renovated for bus storage and maintenance. Shortly after its opening, the garage was expanded to include more workshop space; a dispatch area was added in 1986. The garage is named for Martin J. Ruter, a World War II veteran from Hanover, Minn., who spent nearly a half-century in transit. Ruter began his career as a streetcar driver for Twin City Lines and later became a bus driver. More than 160 buses are kept at the garage, including 40-foot, articulated and coach models. The fleet includes nearly 30 Maple Grove Transit buses. (Metro Transit is the contracted provider for Maple Grove Transit.) Because of the large number of commuter bus routes that run in the northwest metro, Ruter operates more articulated buses than any other service garage in Metro Transit’s system and hosts the most part-time drivers of any Metro Transit bus facility. Drivers can train for and obtain their commercial driver’s license at Ruter Garage, which also serves as the receiving point for any new buses.
Staff: More than 225 bus drivers and nearly 50 bus maintenance staff members.
Routes: Nearly 30 routes operate out of the Martin J. Ruter Garage, including Route 5, with service between Brooklyn Center and Mall of America, and Route 19, a Hi-Frequency route with service to downtown Minneapolis. Several express routes also operate from the garage. Maple Grove Transit service includes routes 780, 781, 782, 783, 785 and 789, which offers express service to the University of Minnesota.