An original press photograph from the archives of the venerable 150 year-old Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Type & Size: A 8x10" original photograph.
Condition: Photo from a working archive. May contain notes, marks, labels, clippings, and/or retouching by the staff at the time of publication. May contain issues associated with time, age, and use. Please see images for scans.

Metropolitan Transit Commission photos from Minneapolis showcase new public transportation developments. The images feature a new bus with air-conditioned, upholstered interiors, rider phone information services, updated bus signs, and modern bus shelters, reflecting improvements in the mid-1970s.

The Metropolitan Transit Commission in Minneapolis underwent significant changes in the late 1960s and early 1970s, focusing on modernization and improved services. These initiatives were part of a broader effort to enhance public transportation in urban areas, addressing growing commuter needs and environmental considerations.

Text present on photo:
New buses
Air conditioned, upholstered interiors
Rider phone information
New bus signs
Bus shelters
FIVE YEARS OF PUBLIC OWNERSHIP -- It's been five years since the Metropolitan Transit Commission became the public agency operating the Twin Cities bus lines. Since that time, the MTC has equaled or exceeded goals in several main areas, including:
New buses -- Purchase of 611 new air conditioned buses, equipped with more comfortable seats, additional destination signs and anti-pollution controls. The MTC will purchase up to an additional 339 buses. Average age of the bus fleet has been reduced from 14 years to 6 1/2.
Bus shelters – 166 new shelters have been placed in strategic locations throughout the metropolitan area. A current construction bulletin will result in an additional 109 shelters before the snow flies.
New bus signs – 8,000 bus stops throughout the Twin Cities Metropolitan area have been equipped with "T" signs; while stops serving more than one route have additional signs indicating route number. Major downtown boarding locations and passenger shelters offer specific schedule information.
Phone information program – Staff has grown in size from 11 operators to 34. The center now handles more than 5,000 calls daily, a capacity triple the 1970 limits. Transit information demand has made it necessary to attempt to increase resources to get ahead of this demand.
Back of photo:
Metropolitan Transit
Commission
Minneapolis
SEP 23 1975


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The press photo archives contained a mix of silver gelatin and wire photographs from sources such as Associated Press Wirephoto. Generally B&W images with no typed text on them in this archive are silver gelatin images, and photos with typed text are wire photos. All images are vintage and original to their era.