Rosemount Residents Reflect on Possible Transit Cuts Coming to the Twin Cities

Metro Transit has proposed cutting bus routes throughout the metro within the next year because of funding cuts from the Minnesota state legislature.

The Metropolitan Council is bracing to lose 85 percent of the state's general fund contribution to transit for 2012-13 if the Minnesota state legislature passes its budget at the end of the state government shutdown.

With the shutdown showing no signs of ending soon, the Met Council is planning its future services based on the most recent proposal it received from the legislature—a worst-case scenario reduction of $109 million for 2012-13 transit operations.

If the actual budget echoes these projections, the Met Council says it will be forced to slash or limit 130 of 146 bus routes across the Twin Cities. It also faces elimination of most suburban local and crosstown bus routes and fare increases of 25-50 cents per ride. Met Council officials haven’t named specific routes for proposed cutting or reduced scheduling.

“That would be horrible for people that depend on it,” Anne Erickson, a Rosemount Carbone's customer said.

The regional transportation network, including Metro Transit, has an annual budget of $375 million. But the challenge, according to John Levin, director of service development for Metro Transit, is responding to a proposed $109 million reduction in state funding for metro area transit.

"I don’t use the bus right now, but I might be, soon – if they’re there – [and] I know a lot of people who take them every day [that would be affected by this],” Rosemount resident Lisa Parkin said. "...Why can’t they (the government) just make up their minds, for the good of the people? They’re losing more money doing this – losing money to save money. I think it’s both the [current] governor and the legislators. It’s just chaos on top of chaos."

Of course, with reduced operations comes reduced revenue from ridership. The Met Council anticipates losing as many as 17 million annual bus rides because of the reduced routes and increased fares.

“The only way to address this shortfall is to cut deeply into the services we provide,” Levin said.

In addition to the service cuts, the Met Council expects more than 500 regular route transit operators and related staff to lose their jobs, and more than 200 buses to go unused.

“This is the beginning of a process where we're looking to prepare for the worst, but truly hope for the best for the system and its future," said Jon Commers, vice chair of the council’s Community Development Committee and member of the Transportation Committee.

The Met Council is held a second public meeting at the Minneapolis Central Library from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. It is also planning seven public hearings to consider testimony from community members.

Here are the dates, times and locations of these hearings:

• Aug. 8 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Bloomington Civic Plaza)
• Aug. 9 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Hopkins Center for the Arts)
• Aug. 10 – Noon to 1 p.m. (Minneapolis Central Library)
• Aug. 11 – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Maplewood Library)
• Aug. 15 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Brookdale Library, Brooklyn Center)
• Aug. 16 – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Metro Transit Offices , Minneapolis)
• Aug. 18 – Noon to 1 p.m. (Metropolitan Council Offices , Saint Paul)

Met Council aims to finalize plans for fares and service routes by September and implement changes by early 2012.