Metro
Mobility: Fares Up, Service Down
by Lance H. Hegland
Public Forums to Be Held during April
The Metropolitan Council is seeking fare increases and service reductions
to Metro Mobility in response to the state's current budget shortfall.
These changes will impact users of: (1) Metro Mobility; (2) contracted
transit services (e.g. Dial-a-Ride); and, (3) Metro Transit bus routes
across the entire Twin Cities metro area.
Although fares for seniors,
youth, and persons with disabilities riding regular-route transit
are unchanged under the proposal, riders of Metro Mobility are
facing increases of 8.5 to 9 percent. The Metropolitan Council
points out that, “Even with the proposed increase,
fares for Metro Mobility/ADA customers remain 50 cents lower per
ride than the maximum permitted under federal guidelines.”
The fare increases may
cause some dismay, but the largest impact to the community may
be felt from reduced services. Currently, service areas are defined
on a community-by-community basis (i.e. "if
you live in Minnetonka..."). Under the proposal, which could begin
as early as September 2005, service will only be available "within
one mile of a regular bus route that provides, primarily, all-day,
fixed-route service" (i.e. "if you live one mile north or
south of Highway 12, west of I-494..."). Therefore, it may be
much more confusing to determine whether or not desired pick-up and
drop-off locations fall within the service areas. The Council points
out that the "service area remains well within federal guidelines,
which requires service be delivered only within ¾-mile of
a regular bus route."
According to the Metropolitan
Council, "Some 70 percent of
[the regular Metro Transit bus] routes and Metropolitan Council
regional routes operating on weekdays would be impacted in some
fashion by a proposed 10 percent reduction of regular-route service.
The reductions will result in a 3.7 percent ridership decline
and would save $15.9 million in annualized service costs. Under
the proposal, 28 weekday routes would be eliminated, 78 weekday
routes would be reduced and 47 would be unchanged."
Public hearings are scheduled throughout April in order to gather
public feedback regarding the proposal. These hearings will offer important
opportunities for riders who may be impacted by the proposal to voice
their concerns. According to the Council, all locations are fully accessible
and sign language interpreters will be available at each forum. If
you will be impacted by these changes, you are urged to register in
advance to speak at one of these public hearings by calling the Metropolitan
Council Data Center at 651-602-1140 (TTY 651-291-0904). Upon request,
reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities will be provided.
The meeting schedule is as follows:
West Metro: April 12 – 6:30
to 8:30 p.m.
Hopkins Center for the Arts
1111 Main Street, Hopkins
St. Paul: April 13 – 11:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Council – Chambers
230 East Fifth Street, downtown St. Paul
Minneapolis: April 14 – 4:30
to 6:30 p.m.
Metro Transit – Heywood Chambers
560 Sixth Avenue North, downtown Minneapolis
Minneapolis: April 18 – 11:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Minneapolis City Hall – Room 220
350 South Fifth Street, downtown Minneapolis
East Metro: April 18 – 6:30
to 8:30 p.m.
Maplewood Community Center
2100 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood
North Metro: April 19 – 6:30
to 8:30 p.m.
Fridley Community Center – Media Room #109
6085 Seventh Street Northeast, Fridley
South Metro: April 20 – 5:00
to 7:00 p.m.
Burnsville City Hall – Lower Level Community Room
100 Civic Center Parkway, Burnsville
If you are unable to attend,
you have until still have until 5:00 p.m. on May 1, 2005 to provide
your feedback. You can do this by:
using comment cards
available on buses and trains during April;
e-mailing the
Data Center at data.center@metc.state.mn.us;
writing the
data center at the following address:
Regional Data Center Metropolitan
Council
230 East 5th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
using the on-line
comment form located on the World Wide Web at www.metrocouncil.org;
faxing
the Data Center at 651-602-1464; or,
calling 651-602-1500
(TTY 651-291-0904).
After all of the the comments are considered, a final recommendation
for fare and service changes will be made. The Council will take final
action on May 11.
For more information regarding these changes, please visit the Metro
Mobility website at www.metromobility.org or the Metro Transit website
at www.metrotransit.org.
"ACTION ALERT:
MN-CCD urges you to contact your state representative and
senator to let them know thousands depend on Metro Mobility as a
critical source of transportation. If you don't know who your elected
officials are, call 651-296-2146, or go to www.leg.state.mn.us."
