The Mall of America station is the busiest transit center in Minnesota, with bus and light rail service linking the Mall of America to many destinations in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro. Public transit service is provided by Metro Transit and the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority. The station is served by Metro Blue Line and Red Line. The station previously hosted private shuttle services to hotels and Mystic Lake Casino until those services moved to a new charter bus terminal on the north side of the mall in 2015. A $25 million upgrade to the station was completed October 14, 2019 with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony February 14, 2020. Location and design The transit center first opened in 1994 along with the Mall of America and only provided bus service. During this period, gangs would congregate at the transit center after mall close. The mall asked Metro Transit pull bus service, to which they refused. As an alternative, the mall required teenagers to be accompanied by adults, a policy that is still in place. Original plans for light rail service had the station and a 200-space park and ride lot located across 24th Avenue, with a skyway through the parking ramp to access the bus terminal and mall. Mall management tried to keep the light rail station off their property, with a representative stating, "LRT needs the mall more than the mall needs LRT". However, in June 2003, intervention from the Federal Transit Administration and $39.9 million in additional funding for the Hiawatha Light Rail project allowed the alignment to extended south entering into the transit center, providing direct access to buses. The park and ride facility was moved to a new station at 28th Avenue using funds for the 80th Street station, which would then be constructed at a later date. Bus and train platforms are located on the ground floor of the east parking ramp to the mall. When the station first opened until the 2019 renovation, passengers were required to walk outside and cross the mall's ring road to enter the mall. The new transit station brings passengers directly into the mall, crossing under the road in a new tunnel. The original transit center had a utilitarian design with basic finishes. Met Council member Steve Elkins said in a council meeting, "It's just dark and dank, and not really safe or inviting". Metro service The mall is the