Metro Transit plans for catastrophic cuts
June 30, 2011
Contact: Hilary Reeves, Transit for Livable Communities: 651-767-0298 x115 (days); 612-554-1795 (evenings); hilaryr@tlcminnesota.org
Potential cuts could shutter park and rides and eliminate commuter routes
June 30, 2011 (Saint Paul, Minn.)--Faced with possible loss of nearly all state general funding, Metro Transit released a preliminary plan that would result in dramatic cuts to transit service throughout the Twin Cities metro area. In addition to cuts, fares could be raised $0.25 to $0.50 per trip. Service overall could be reduced by at least 25%. Metro Transit released this proposed plan for public review as part of federal requirements when major changes to the fare structure and route schedule are being considered.
“These potential cuts are a huge step backwards for the Twin Cities," said Bill Neuendorf, Director of Advocacy for Transit for Livable Communities. “While the funds Metro Transit receives from the state’s general fund are less than 1% of the statewide budget, they make the difference in Metro Transit providing service to more than a hundred thousand riders every day.”
Additional details about Metro Transit’s approach to determining fare increases and service reductions can be found at: http://metrocouncil.org/media/2011/TransitReductionPlanningJun27.pdf. This chart (page 15 of the pdf) identifies some of the Metro Transit bus routes that are under strong consideration for being eliminated. These potential cuts impact not only the central cities and first-ring suburbs, but also most regions of the metropolitan area, from Anoka and Coon Rapids to Lakeville and Stillwater.
From Metro Transit PDF. Routes in red are part of one scenario for dealing with a possible $109m cut in funding.
According to Metro Transit’s presentation, ninety percent (90%) of all existing Metro Transit bus routes are likely to be impacted. Many popular commuter routes could be eliminated despite their high ridership. Direct service to the University of Minnesota could be replaced with local routes. Remaining routes are proposed to have less frequent service, truncated service, and shorter hours of operation.
According to a March 2011 policy brief from Transit for Livable Communities, a fare hike of $0.50 will result in the Twin Cities region having one of the most expensive base fares in the country. Since 2000, base transit fares in the Twin Cities have nearly doubled from $1.00 to $1.75. Although higher fares reduce ridership, transit providers have little choice when operating funds are reduced. Metro Transit has one of the highest levels of “fare box recovery” in the nation, meaning that transit riders here pay more of the cost of operating the system than in peer cities.
Many of the express commuter routes bringing people to and from the downtown business centers are under consideration to be eliminated. Business commuters are among the many groups of riders that would be heavily impacted by these cuts. While these routes have strong ridership, they are among the most costly to operate. Fuel costs are higher (due to the longer distances traveled) and ridership is typically one-way. (In the morning, buses are full headed into the downtowns but are mostly empty as they return outbound. The same is true in reverse in the evening--buses full outbound but empty coming back.)
Metro Transit is holding two public meetings to gather input from transit riders and other concerned parties about how to prioritize and implement potential cuts. The meetings will be held as follows:
- Saint Paul: Wednesday, July 6 – 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the main floor chambers of the Metropolitan Council, 390 N. Robert Street in Saint Paul
- Minneapolis: Thursday, July 7 – 11:30 AM to 1 PM in the Doty Board Room of the Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
Transit riders are strongly encouraged to attend these meetings and express their concerns. Input can also be provided in writing to the Metropolitan Council or by contacting the Senators and Representatives at the State Capitol. For additional information visit the Metropolitan Council website at: http://www.metrocouncil.org/newsletter/transit2011/TransitHearingsJun23.htm. Information can also be found on the Metro Transit website: http://www.metrotransit.org/TransitArticles/Story.aspx?pageid=18&mid=393&articleid=460.
Additional public hearings are tentatively scheduled for August to address specific changes to specific routes.
Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, provides the majority of mass transit service in the Twin Cities region. Their operational funding is provided by four primary sources: the state’s general fund, a portion of the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST) revenues, federal funding, and fares paid by riders. The State Legislature proposes to reduce general fund support by 85%. This is a cut of $109 million over the two year budget period.
Transit for Livable Communities (TLC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to reform Minnesota’s transportation system. Through advocacy, organizing, education, and research, TLC promotes a balanced transportation system that encourages transit, walking, bicycling, and thoughtful development. www.tlcminnesota.org
| Metro Transit Routes Under Consideration to be Eliminated | |
| Route | Cities Served |
| 14 | Robbinsdale, Golden Valley |
| 59 | Coon Rapids, Spring Lake Park, Blaine |
| 75 | West St Paul, Inver Grove Heights |
| 111 | Bloomington, Richfield, Edina |
| 219 | Mahtomedi, Willernie, Pine Springs, Birchwood |
| 219 | Landfall, Oakdale, Maplewood, Birchwood |
| 223 | Rosedale, Little Canada, Maplewood |
| 225 | Roseville, Arden Hills |
| 250 | Lino Lakes, Circle Pines |
| 261 | North Oaks, Arden Hills, Roseville |
| 262 | Shoreview, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, Little Canada, Roseville |
| 265 | White Bear Lake, Gem Lake |
| 265 | White Bear Lake |
| 270 | Mahtomedi, Willernie, Pine Springs, Birchwood |
| 270 | Maplewood |
| 275 | Lino Lakes, Centerville, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights |
| 275 | Lino Lakes, Centerville, North Oaks |
| 288 | Forest Lake, Scandia |
| 294 | Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Lake Elmo, Oakdale |
| 294 | Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Stillwater, Oak Park Heights |
| 350 | St Paul |
| 361 | Cottage Grove, Newport |
| 364 | Cottage Grove, Newport |
| 365 | Cottage Grove, Newport |
| 375 | Woodbury, Landfall, Oakdale |
| 415 | Mendota Heights, Bloomington |
| 417 | Mendota Heights, West St Paul |
| 452 | West St Paul, Mendota Heights |
| 467 | Lakeville |
| 477 | Lakeville, Apple Valley, Eagan |
| 539 | Bloomington, Richfield, Edina |
| 542 | Bloomington, Richfield, Edina |
| 552 | Bloomington, Richfield, Edina |
| 558 | Bloomington, Richfield, Edina |
| 568 | Bloomington, Richfield, Edina |
| 578 | Bloomington, Richfield, Edina |
| 589 | Bloomington, Richfield, Edina |
| 597 | Bloomington, Richfield, Edina |
| 615 | Hopkins |
| 664 | Minnetonka |
| 667 | Minnetonka |
| 670 | Spring Park, Minnetonka Beach, Tonka Bay, Excelsior, Greenwood, Deephaven, Woodland |
| 671 | Spring Park, Minnetonka Beach, Tonka Bay, Excelsior, Greenwood, Deephaven, Woodland |
| 674 | Orono, Wayzata, Long Lake |
| 677 | Mound, Spring Park, Minnetonka Beach, Wayzata |
| 705 | Golden Valley, New Hope, Osseo |
| 716 | Osseo, Brooklyn Center, Crystal |
| 724 | Osseo, Brooklyn Center |
| 766 | Anoka, Champlin, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center |
| 767 | New Hope, Crystal, Brooklyn Center |
| 805 | Anoka, Coon Rapids, Spring Lake Park |
| 811 | Anoka |
| 831 | Blaine, Coon Rapids |
| 850 | Coon Rapids,Spring Lake Park, Mounds View, |
| 854 | Blaine, Coon Rapids, Spring Lake Park |
| Prepared by: Transit for Livable Communities, June 30, 2011 | |
| Note (1): This summary is limited to the bus service provided by Metro Transit.In some areas, additional transit service is provided by other providers. | |
| Note (2): At this time, Metro Transit has not released specific changes to specific route numbers. Transit for Livable Communities has analyzed the "Concept Bus Service Plan" (dated June 27, 2011) in light of the current route map available from Metro Transit to identify commuter routes under consideration for elimination. Route numbers should be considered preliminary until Metro Transit announces specific details on or about July 29, 2011. | |
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