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In this Issue
The Minnesota House is proposing deep cuts
to Metro Transit funding. That will lead to fare increases and a 40
percent cut in bus service for people who depend on transit every day to get to
work, school and medical appointments. Every one of Metro Transit’s 151
routes would be affected, with either reduced frequency of service or
elimination all together.
At a time when the state has a $1.6 billion
budget surplus, legislators are considering cuts that will devastate our
transit system.
Their bill specifically harms multiple populations for which
transit is a daily necessity. There are many people in our region who are
transit-dependent for whom taking a car to work, school or for errands is not
an option. Half of local bus riders don’t have a driver’s license, while 58
percent don’t have access to a car. In addition to the steep service cuts, the
House bill requires fare increases well above the increases already under
consideration, effectively pricing those transit dependent riders out of the
system.
Even for those with a choice, a cut in bus service of this size
will put thousands more cars on the road every day, adding to rush hour
congestion everywhere. At rush hour, a bus can take 40 cars off the road
and a light rail train can take up to 600. Without transit, I-35W would require
an additional 1.5 lanes of traffic flow to move the same number of users during
rush hour. Regionally, our transit system provides 100 million trips a year,
you can’t build enough roads to efficiently move that many more cars in our
already congested Metro.
Today, 80 percent of all transit riders are either traveling to
work or school, meaning that hundreds of families and businesses would be negatively
impacted by this service reduction. It’s difficult to understand why lawmakers
who claim to value public transit would cut this essential service and leave so
many transit dependent residents on the curb.
I invite you to share your thoughts with me at jennifer.munt@metc.state.mn.us.
Warmest regards,
Jennifer
I proudly serve Chanhassen, Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Excelsior,
Greenwood, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono,
Shorewood, Spring Park, St. Bonifacius, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
The Metropolitan Council is seeking public input on a proposal to raise transit fares in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Proposed fare increases would affect all regional transit services, including those operated by Metro Transit, Metro Mobility, the Metropolitan Council, (including Transit Link and suburban service), and suburban transit providers (Maple Grove Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, Plymouth MetroLink, and SouthWest Transit). Transit fares, under state law and regional policy must be set on a regional basis and be consistent across providers.
Learn more about the proposal and to weigh in.
Demand for Metro Mobility service continues to grow, but legislation that passed in the Minnesota House of Representatives would likely mean cuts in the transportation service for people with disabilities, as well as fare increases.
Transit Link dial-a-ride service is a discretionary program the Council provides in areas where regular-route transit service is not available. The Council would likely be forced to eliminate this service under proposed funding levels, hitting suburban areas especially hard.
As approved by the House, HF861 would increase the projected regional transit deficit from $74 million to $140 million, and fail to meet the needs of the growing disability community. The legislation would force cuts throughout Council transit services, including Metro Transit, Metro Mobility, Transit Link and other transit service under contract to the Council.
The House bill would also require fare increases throughout the transit system, above and beyond what the Council is currently considering.
For Metro Mobility, the current peak-hour fare is $4 per ride; $3 during off-peak hours. Council officials worry about the effect of further increases on a vulnerable population living on limited incomes.
Budget cuts would reduce Metro Mobility service area and hours
The House bill would fund Metro Mobility with the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST) rather than state general funds. But that doesn’t address the effects that cuts to Metro Transit service have on Metro Mobility, nor the continued growth in demand for Metro Mobility.
Read the entire article.
State lawmakers are debating a number of bills this session that would have big implications for metro area public transit. Both the House and Senate have passed initial bills that would lead to service cuts; the proposed budget cuts by the House would lead to service cuts of 40%, impacting dozens of routes.
What’s next
The Senate and House each passed a transportation bill in late March. Those bills will now head to a conference committee, where the differences in the bills will be sorted out before new votes in the House and Senate.
In the News
Read the entire article.
On Monday, March 27, Metropolitan Council Chair Adam Duininck, transit advocates, business groups, and local officials urged the House leadership to withdraw their proposed legislation and pursue a sustainable fix to transit funding in the Twin Cities metro region.
View highlights from the press conference.
On Jan. 20, Council
Members Barber, Rodriguez and I attended the Municipal Legislative Commission breakfast in
Plymouth. We met with our city officials and local legislators to
discuss the legislative session. Participating cities included:
Bloomington, Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Edina, Maple Grove, Minnetonka,
Plymouth, and Shakopee. Each city had some combination of their mayor,
city council members and most city administrators in attendance.
On March 14, I met with
Wayzata Mayor Ken Willcox and city manager Jeff Dahl. I was joined by
Freya Thamman, sector representative, and Steve Mahowald, senior transit
planner. We discussed Wayzata’s Lake Effects project, the city’s
comprehensive planning efforts, as well as park-and-ride and transit needs.
On April 18, I rallied with
transit riders and faith leaders at the State Capitol. We raised
concerns about deep cuts proposed by the House majority. Kjensmo Walker
said, “Transit connects us to life. It’s worth fighting for!”
On April 20, I joined 250
neighbors for an Affordable Housing Forum in Eden Prairie, sponsored by the
New American Development Center, the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, Pax
Christi Community, Jewish Community Action, and Homeline.
On April 24, I enjoyed
speaking with Kay Erickson and Karen Schaffer from the League of Women
Voters. Our conversation about the Metropolitan Council, past and
present, will be broadcast this month on the cable program, “Talking Points.”
I’m also planning for some
more municipal tours in the district in May.
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