New Running Aces Park-and-Ride scheduled to open in early May

Local officials are pleased with expanded service in the east side

Contact:
Bonnie Kollodge
651.602.1357

ST. PAUL, MN — April 25, 2008 — Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, will open the new Running Aces Park-and-Ride on May 5, providing another 300 spaces to serve bus customers in the northeast metro.

The new park-and-ride is located at the new Running Aces Harness Park at Lake Drive and Zurich Street in Columbus. It’s expected to serve commuters headed south on I-35 from north-metro communities such as Wyoming, Stacy and North Branch. The new facility is expected to relieve some pressure on the 95th Avenue Park-and-Ride in Blaine.

“We know from our license plate surveys that we have about 100 commuters from communities north of Forest Lake using the park-and-ride in Blaine,” said Metropolitan Council Member Natalie Steffen. “The added park-and-ride is the next step in our effort to explore the viability of expanded transit in this part of the region, while also helping to mitigate the impacts of the I-35W bridge collapse last August.”

The park-ride facility will be served by Route 288, which was launched in January as a one-year demonstration. Route 288 will add another express trip in the morning to accommodate riders, and the afternoon shuttle from the 95th Avenue Park-and-Ride will be replaced by an express trip leaving downtown Minneapolis after 5:30 p.m. The route is paid for with emergency transit funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation and was established as part of a larger response to the bridge collapse.

Local officials say they are pleased with the service so far, which transports an average of more than 300 commuters each weekday.

“We’re delighted with the success of the service, as well as the partnership between local governments and the Metro Council that helped to make this happen,” said Mike Rogers, Washington County Senior Planner. “The new park-ride enhances the service even further, and will help to accommodate even more of our east-side commuters in the effort to mitigate congestion in this part of the region.”

Since trip times are changing, customers should contact Metro Transit’s Transit Information Center (TIC) for schedule information at 612.373.3333.

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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