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Politics & Government

Met Council: Businesses Must Step Up To Stave Off Transit Cuts

While Twin Cities residents demanded consideration for the poor and disabled, council prepares for a worst-case scenario.

Facing the threat of a $109 million cut to its budget, Metro Transit officials are taking their case to the people. Met Council members hope the specter of a 25 percent cut to bus service will drum up support among voters and businesses that can pressure Republican legislators and the DFL governor to look elsewhere for savings in any potential budget deal.

“We worked with the chambers of commerce to be strong transit advocates during the session,” said Council Member Adam Duininck, of Minneapolis. “What’s difficult is to get them involved during these budget negotiations that are happening in a far-off place.”

Part of the Met Council's strategy includes a string of public hearings and meetings to gather testimonials from riders about their reliance on Metro Transit services, along with suggestions on the levels of fare hikes and service reductions riders might find acceptable if the cuts are passed as part of a budget deal. The second of those meetings was held Thursday at the downtown Minneapolis branch of the Hennepin County Library.

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The cuts that would become necessary under the budget proposed by Republicans, representing 85 percent of Metro Transit’s state revenues, would likely cost Metro Transit between eight and 10 million riders and 500 employees, said John Levin, Metro Transit’s Director of Service Development.

“Because the regular route system is such a large proportion of the budget (at nearly 75 percent), there is no choice but to look to regular routes for fare increases or cost reductions,” he said.

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Many audience members suggested the scale of these cuts would significantly damage the Minnesota economy and isolate many poor, elderly and disabled Twin Cities residents. 

“Looking at bus service today in Inver Grove Heights, it's less than minimal—it’s skeletal,” said Patrick McNamara, of Inver Grove Heights, “My son has a personal care attendant, and they don’t make a lot of money. Quite frankly, they have to own a car to come out to where we live because of the minimal bus service.”

McNamara said he was worried about how low-income suburban residents would be able to get to their jobs if routes were eliminated or run for shorter periods of the day.

“My mother is now 84,” said Lila Smith of Minneapolis. “Years ago, when there was a bus strike, she wore out two canes (walking) that winter because she was on the side of the bus drivers. She’s a union woman. She’s now had open-heart surgery and gets around with one of those little walkers. She depends on bus service to be independent.”

Richfield resident Kathleen Murphy said riders should look at the debate as cars versus mass transit.

"Are we going to keep our roads, or are we going to better our transit system?" she asked, suggesting there wasn't enough money to do both.

“Minneapolis puts more money into the state (in taxes) than we get back (in state aid),” said Peter Wagenius, an aide to Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak. “One of the major reasons we can say that is because downtown Minneapolis is a huge economic engine for the region, and transit service is essential for keeping that engine revved up.”

Metro Transit’s Levin said he and other planners would be adjusting their proposal based on comments heard at today’s meeting. People can also send comments through by emailing the Met Council at data.center@metc.state.mn.us.

Despite the dramatic cuts Levin outlined, after the meeting, Duininck admitted that Metro Transit was unlikely to suffer the full $109 million cut.

“It feels like the transit cuts were set up as a negotiating position” by Republican legislative leaders, Duininck said.

With both sides so far apart on this issue—Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed budget fully funds Metro Transit—Duininck said he thinks some reduction is inevitable.

Levin said final decisions about the cuts are not due until September, and would depend on the content of the budget deal reached in St Paul. Draft plans for the cuts, he said, would be presented at public hearings in August, currently scheduled for the following days:

  • Monday, Aug. 8 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bloomington Civic Plaza
  • Tuesday, Aug. 9 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hopkins Center for the Arts
  • Wednesday, Aug. 10 – Noon to 1 p.m. Minneapolis Central Library
  • Thursday, Aug. 11 – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Maplewood Public Library
  • Monday, Aug. 15 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Brookdale Public Library
  • Tuesday, Aug. 16 – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Metro Transit Offices, Minneapolis
  • Thursday, Aug. 18 – Noon to 1 p.m. Metropolitan Council Offices, St. Paul
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