Arrowhead Transit Ushers in a New Era of Rural Transportation

Arrowhead Transit, Cambridge, MN, has launched its RideSmart 2025 system redesign, bringing together local leaders, community partners, and state transit advocates for a celebratory event at the agency’s Cambridge operations center. The initiative is the most ambitious rural transit overhaul in Minnesota to date.

The redesigned system includes expanded commuter routes, clearly defined Dial-A-Ride zones with extended hours, and multiple new loop routes designed to improve regional connectivity. The redesign also lays the groundwork for future app-based booking and real-time tracking technology.

“This launch represents years of listening to our riders and responding with a plan that’s grounded in their real needs,” said Sandra Wheelecor, assistant director of operations. “RideSmart 2025 is about better access, clearer schedules, stronger connections—and most importantly, it’s about people.”

More than 68,000 riders used Arrowhead Transit services in Chisago and Isanti counties in 2024 alone—a number expected to grow as the new system takes hold. The redesign was shaped by more than 100 survey responses, months of public engagement, and dozens of adjustments based on community feedback.