Albert Lea Transit, Steel County Area Transit and Austin-Mower County Area Transit are consolidating to form Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit.

According to a press release, SMART’s mission is to provide safe, reliable, accessible and courteous public transportation services in response to the needs of the community.

Beginning Jan. 1 the phone number to call will be 1-855-752-7821. The website for SMART is www.smartbusmn.org.

Dispatch hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.

Reservations will be accepted up to two weeks in advance.

All existing tickets, tokens and passes will continue to be honored.

Routes and dial-a-ride service hours are not expected to change.

In Albert Lea, tokens and passes can be purchased at Nelson’s County Market and the Albert Lea Transit office at 905 E. 16th St.

Unlimited monthly route passes are only available for sale at the transit office.

 

Fares

Demand response (within city limits) $2

Demand response (county-wide) $2.50

Deviated route $1.50

Student (age 3 to 17) $1

Child (age 2 and under) Free

Unlimited one month route pass $30

Unlimited one month route pass for senior
citizens (60 and up) and students (3 to 17)     $25