More service on east metro bus route 219 in St. Paul

Contact:
Bonnie Kollodge
651-602-1357

ST. PAUL – March 6, 2008 – Beginning March 8, bus riders on Route 219, between Maplewood Mall and Sun Ray Shopping Center in St. Paul, will see improvements that include more service and greater frequency of service. Service enhancements on the route will give job seekers more access to employment opportunities, as well as vocational classes at Century College.

Improvements on Route 219, which is operated by the Metropolitan Council, include 30-minute service on weekdays, more trips after 7 p.m. on weekdays and new hourly service on Saturdays.

Funding for the service enhancements comes from a federal Job Access and Reverse Commute grant, which supports transportation services that improve access to employment opportunities for lower-income individuals. The enhancements are part of a demonstration project, lasting at least through September 2009.

When preparing for the Route 219 changes, planners at Metro Transit identified nearly 11,000 entry-level jobs in the route’s service area. Route 219 serves several major east-metro employment centers, including 3M, FedEx and the retail areas at Maplewood Mall and Sun Ray Shopping Center.

Sixteen northbound and 16 southbound trips have been added on weekdays, providing greater frequency of service so buses operate along the route every 30 minutes during the day. Also on weekdays, trips will be offered after 7 p.m.

On Saturdays, Route 219 will offer 14 northbound and 14 southbound trips, and buses will provide hourly service between 6:15 a.m. and 8:10 p.m.

The cash fare for Route 219 is $2 during weekday rush hours and $1.50 at all other times.

For trip planning services, customers can talk with a transit expert at the Transit Information Center at 612-373-3333 or use the online trip planner at www.metrotransit.org.

The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the seven-county Twin Cities area. The Council runs the regional bus and light rail system, collects and treats wastewater, coordinates regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The Council board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the governor.

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