Steve Morris
ECM Post Review

The Rush Line Task force voted to move forward with commuter bus service minus service to downtown Minneapolis at its meeting Oct. 18 at the White Bear Lake City Hall.

“To me, this is a reasonable way to get it started,” said Rush Line Task Force Chairwoman and Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt.

The decision to axe the Minneapolis service was made because of Hennepin County’s decision to not share in the funding of a commuter bus service into downtown Minneapolis.

Without the financial help, it didn’t make sense to the task force to run the service to Hennepin County and they voted accordingly.

After a lengthy debate, Anoka County voted not to move forward under the belief that if the service didn’t go to Minneapolis, it didn’t make sense to them. They were the only county who voted not to move forward.

With the vote, the current plan stands to have a commuter bus service start in Lent Township at the new I-35 and CR-17 park and ride and travel to downtown St. Paul with stops in Forest Lake and White Bear Lake.

Area reaction

Forest Lake Councilwoman and task force member Susan Young said at the meeting it doesn’t fit everything she wants, but it is a good place to start. Hopefully, later down the line, Minneapolis will be added, Young said.

The plan is to operate four trips per direction during weekdays. Service will operate toward downtown St. Paul in the morning peak and from downtown St. Paul during the afternoon peak.

Total cost to operate the bus service to St. Paul for half of 2008 is estimated at $477,850. For all of 2009, the estimated cost is $708,100.

Funding the project is still in the works. In adopting the St. Paul only bus service, they also changed the way they are seeking funding.

Before, the counties were going to pay for the service, but now the task force is focusing on seeking money from the state.

Lawmakers listen

District 17B State Rep. Jeremy Kalin, DFL-Lindstrom, was among three lawmakers at the meeting.

District 53B Rep. Carol McFarlane of district 53B and District 52A Rep. Bob Dettmer of Forest Lake were also on hand.

“It’s a no brainer to have the state pick up the tab,” Kalin said.

Kalin, who also serves on the transportation committee said he is going to help write a bill seeking money to fund the project.

Kalin said he has plans to ask for $400,000 in capital costs to help pay for items such as the buses and another $600,000 in long-term capital costs which may include items such as park and rides and bus shelters. In addition, he has plans to include $300,000 in capital improvement costs.

Kalin said the task force should have an answer from the state by June 1, 2008.

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