Heartland Express offers affordable transportation

A more affordable public transportation option for families is now available through the Rock County Heartland Express.
County Commissioners approved the additional rate option called Unlimited Monthly Family School Pass at their Sept. 8 meeting.
Instead of purchasing a pass for each child to ride the Heartland Express bus to and from a Luverne school, the Family School Pass allows unlimited rides by all of the family’s children at one discounted price.
County Commissioners supported the special rate, agreeing to a trial basis until the end of the 2015-16 school year.
“There is no question there is a big break if you have more than one rider,” said County Administrator Kyle Oldre.
He said most families have two to three students.
Since beginning the bus transportation system in 1991, the service has become financially self-sustaining. In 2014 the service gave nearly 24,000 rides.
Contacted after the meeting, Heartland’s dispatcher Elaine Birkestrand said, “We are going to be able to better serve our families.”
Currently unlimited ride passes are sold on an individual basis only, requiring families to purchase a pass for each child. Costs of an individual pass range from $45 to $108, depending on how far an individual lives from Luverne.
Based on the current option, a monthly ride pass could cost a family of two children between $90 and $216 per month.
Under the Family School Pass program, that same family would pay a flat fee ranging from $67.50 to $162.
Cost to implement the program is estimated at $1,000.
Heartland Express operates Monday through Friday beginning at 7:30 a.m. Final pickup is at 4:30 p.m.
For more information, contact the Heartland Express at 283-5058.