Regional balance in transit funding is No. 1 issue at Metro Council District Dialogue
Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell meets with elected officials in northern Ramsey County suburbs
ST. PAUL – Dec. 12, 2008 – “Regional balance” in transit funding was the theme at a recent Metropolitan Council District Dialogue in Maplewood with Council Chair Peter Bell and local elected officials. The Metropolitan Council hosted District Dialogues throughout the region, throughout the year so Bell could talk about regional priorities and hear the issues that matter most in each of the Metropolitan Council’s 16 districts.
"We need adequate funding,” said Ramsey County Commissioner Jan Parker Wiessner, one of 35 local officials who attended the session, with many advocating for east metro projects.
To secure funding for new transit projects, Bell emphasized the need for population density. Ridership will be closely watched on the Northstar Commuter Rail opening service late in 2009 between Big Lake and downtown Minneapolis. In 2014, service starts up on the Central Corridor light rail transit line connecting downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota and downtown Saint Paul. Both projects represent a significant investment and benefit to the region.
The $914 million we’re spending on Central Corridor LRT will be the single largest transportation investment in state history,” said Bell. “It puts us in a competitive position with other top ten metro communities around the country and it’s essential for growth in St. Paul and surrounding communities.”
Bell was joined by the District 10 and 11 representatives on the Metro Council, Kris Sanda of Blaine and Georgeanne Hilker of White Bear Lake. Sanda said the face-to-face interaction at the District Dialogues has been very beneficial.
"It’s a good exchange,” said Sanda. “A common thread I often hear is that ‘the west’ or ‘the south’ metro get all the money for transit. I can say emphatically that is not the case!” said Sanda. The three-year veteran of the Metropolitan Council stressed the importance of following the Cost Effectiveness Index (CEI) mandated by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for transit projects.
"Since the federal government is paying such a high percentage of the cost of building rail projects, we can’t use the argument that Minnesota needs to build a rail corridor in a specific area principally to spur economic development. The ridership numbers have to be high enough to be deserving projects over competing areas of the United States,” said Sanda.
State Rep. Mindy Greiling of Roseville says it’s time for more east metro investment. “We’ve been patiently supporting the Northstar line and the Central Corridor project,” said Greiling, who supports more study and funding east of the river.
Bell agreed that all these areas need to be considered. “I would like to see region-wide policies, or rules of the road, put in place to bring equity across the metro,” he said, adding that the Council is taking local concerns into account in the planning of future transit investment.
The Metro Council next month will adopt the draft 2030 Transportation Policy Plan that has been undergoing public review in recent months.
The draft plan identifies corridors that have strong ridership potential and which merit further study of mode and alignment. East metro corridors proposed for consideration for light rail, busway, Bus Rapid Transit and commuter rail investment include Highway 36, Highway 65/Central Avenue and I-94 east of downtown St. Paul to Wisconsin.
In addition, the Rush Line between St. Paul and Forest Lake is identified as undergoing an Alternatives Analysis, led by Ramsey County, and which is expected to be completed in mid-2009.
To read more about the Metropolitan Council’s 2030 Transportation Policy Plan, go to www.metrocouncil.org/planning/transportation/TPP/2008/index.htm.
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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