State Fair makes changes to ease traffic congestion

West End Gate
The new West End Gate located near the new Minnesota State Fair transit hub.
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair will unveil a new transit hub this summer aimed at relieving traffic congestion along Como Avenue.

For years, a Como Avenue lot has served as the Park and Ride and Express Bus drop off for people headed to the fairgrounds. Once there, fair-goers had to cross a busy street.

The new transit hub on the fair's west side should ease traffic congestion for the state's big event, which runs from Aug. 21 to Sept. 1, State Fair spokesperson Brienna Schuette said.

"About 80 percent of the buses that come in and out of the fairgrounds with visitors, will be going up to that new transit hub and dropping off and picking up there," she said. "They won't be doing that kind of square dance of sorts across Como Avenue."

The transit hub is part of a 22.5-acre, $15 million project on the former Heritage Square site. The West End Market area includes a new Minnesota State Fair History and Heritage Center, an amphitheater and food vendors.

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