Minnesota’s

Public Transit

Systems

Providing Mobility

And Independence

Getting People to Work

Name: Alice Merkens

Address: 505 West Main Street, Ada, MN 56510

Date: 1/15/10

System: Tri-Valley Transportation

Comment: ‘I use T.H.E. Bus to get to my weekly hair appointments here in Ada and I also go on some of their Special Trips. I think it’s a real good service and the driver is always helpful.

Now that I don’t drive too often it’s even more important that this service continues and I know my daughter appreciates it so she doesn’t worry about me driving or having to adjust her schedule to drive me around. Having a bus service here in our small community is very important and it’s appreciated by those who depend on it.

Name: Marlene Hitner

Address: 705 West Main Street #108 , Ada, MN Date: 2009-2010

Comment: “I ride T.H.E. Bus off-and-on for local outings and to go out of town to shop and visit my sister. I think T.H.E. Bus is wonderful! It gets me to the towns I want and need to get to and having local weekly service right here in Ada is really helpful especially since I don’t drive. I think the cost for riding is reasonable and with the price of gas you sure couldn’t drive to Fargo/Moorhead or Crookston for the same amounts.

“Having T.H.E. Bus service means I don’t have to depend on others and I can stay active – It couldn’t be any better!”

Minnesota Public Transit Association 525 Park Street, Ste. 240

St. Paul, MN 55103 651-659-0804

www.mpta-transit.org

December, 2010

Minnesota is facing significantly tough economic times. Investing now in public transportation can help us get out of this mess. For every $1 invested in public transportation, $4 is generated in economic returns. Every $1 billion invested in public transportation creates 36,000 jobs. Simply put, public transportation creates jobs and stimulates our economy. Public transportation is a $48.4 billion industry in America that employs more than 380,000 people

Minnesota needs to invest now to reduce our dependence on foreign oil so we can create long term growth, stability, and national security. Nationally, public transportation allows us to save 900,000 automobile fill-ups each day.

Public transportation is the one thing we can do now to make a responsible environmental choice. Individually, there may be no better choice for reducing your personal carbon footprint: switching to public transportation reduces individual carbon emissions by 20 pounds per day or 4,800 pounds per year.

Public transportation reduces traffic congestion and provides the options Americans need, right now, to get our citizens to and from work efficiently and effectively. Each year, public transportation saves hundreds of millions of hours in travel time, which in turn, reduces stress and decreases congestion on our busy roadways. No matter where you live, in a city, suburb, or beyond, there are public transportation choices you can call on to link you to your job, church, or doctor.

Families can save money. The average household spends 18 cents of every dollar on transportation, and 94% of this goes to buying, maintaining, and operating cars, the largest expenditure after housing. Public transportation provides an affordable, and for many, necessary, alternative to driving. Households that are likely to use public transportation on a given day save over $9,000 every year.

We need to plan for a growing, older population now. Not only will Minnesota’s population grow, the state will have many more residents age 65 or older. Our transportation system will need to change to accommodate this changing demographic with additional transit service.

Public transit is a critical element of our state’s transportation system. Thousands of Minnesotans rely on transit every day and demand is growing as people need more options to get to work and other important destinations.

Minnesotans need additional transit service to access important destinations including medical facilities and businesses. The estimated unmet need for Metropolitan Area Transit is $269 million per year between now and 2020. The unmet need for funding Greater Minnesota Transit is $20 to $30 million per year to 2020.

The Minnesota Public Transit Association (MPTA) is a statewide coalition of transit systems and advocates working to improve transit services throughout the state.

MPTA has been speaking out on the importance of transit service and mobilizing supporters for over 30 years. Our members are on the front lines, providing transit service every day.

MPTA was involved in the campaign to pass a Constitutional Amendment dedicating all of the proceeds from the motor vehicle sales tax to transportation as well as efforts to pass the 2008 Transportation Funding bill (Chapter 152, 2008 Session Laws) and continues to be involved in transportation coalitions, working on critical transportation issues.

We’re ready to provide information, expertise and commitment to working on public policy that supports Minnesota’s transit systems. More information about transit in Minnesota and MPTA’s legislative agenda can be found at: www.mpta-transit.org

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Public transportation is critical to Minnesota’s economy - for every $1 invested in public transportation, $4 is generated in economic returns. Three Minnesotans used public transportation every second of every day in 2008.

Public transportation gets people where they need to go whether it’s to work, to medical appointments, to shopping to school or visit family, transit service provides mobility and options for residents all across Minnesota. Transit systems help reduce congestion, improve air quality, provide mobility for people who can’t drive, and help people remain independent. Transit service contributes to the development of livable communities that attract businesses and residents.

In 2008 (calendar year), public transportation systems funded by Mn/DOT and the Metropolitan Council provided almost 106 million trips statewide with an investment of $403.6 million.

Greater Minnesota In Greater Minnesota, changing mobility needs of individuals and the workforce will place larger demands on public transit systems over the next 20 years. Greater Minnesota’s population is expected to increase by over 30% from 2000 to 2030 with the largest population gains in residents over 65. The changing composition of Minnesota’s population through fluctuations in ethnic and racial makeup, poverty rates, and numbers of people with disabilities will make access to transportation even more critical in the future.

The Greater Minnesota Transit Plan 2010-2030 projects future need for transit service with a target of meeting 80% of projected need. For Greater Minnesota, this transit service target equates to:  1.593 million bus service hours in 2020  1.728 million bus service hours in 2030

Graph I shows the gap between these transit service targets (line) and projected future transit service levels (bars) out to 2030. Future transit service levels were based on estimated available funding. These estimates assume that the state general fund remains at its base level of $17.261 million, the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST) increases by 3% annually, federal funds remain at the 2008 base level and local funds continue to match the other three sources at their 2008 average of 30%. (Note that the local match required by statute is 15% for rural areas and 20% for urban. These are being greatly exceeded.) A widening funding gap for both operating and capital expenses is projected after 2010 due to increasing demand and declining purchasing power of projected revenues.

2 Transit Systems in Greater Minnesota

Greater Minnesota Transit

$10.7 – Fed

$10.2M –

$5.7M - Fed $6.6 M - Fed Fed $18.4M – State Share

$18.3M – State Share $18.2M – $17.6M – State Share State Share $9M – MVST

$7.5M – $7M – MVST MVST $7.2M – MVST

$16.7M – $14.2M – Local Share $12.8M – $14M – Local Share Local Share Local Share

$43.3M $46.4M $49.6M $55.6M 2005 2006 2007 2008

*See Appendix A for a list of Transit Systems with contact information and legislative districts served. 3 Urban Transit Systems The cities of Duluth, East Grand Forks, La Crescent, Moorhead, Rochester, and St. Cloud operate both fixed- route and dial-a-ride services within their respective communities. Combined, their fixed-route services provide almost 66 percent of all public transit rides in Greater Minnesota. In addition, their dial-a-ride services for persons with disabilities provide another 2 percent of the rides in Greater Minnesota. Four of these six cities are located on Minnesota’s borders and coordinate their services with neighboring communities in North Dakota and Wisconsin.

Rural and Small Urban Transit Systems Greater Minnesota has 41 rural public transit systems that operate demand response and/or deviated route services and supplement their services by utilizing volunteer driver programs. These systems primarily provide countywide of multi-county service but also include service in a few smaller cities with populations less than 2,500. In 2008, rural transit systems provided over 23 percent of all public transit rides in Greater Minnesota. Arrowhead Transit is one of the largest rural systems in the nation; it operates in Northeastern Minnesota with service in 7 counties and annually logs 1.5 million miles.

Small urban systems operate in 13 Greater Minnesota cities with populations between 2,500 and 50,000 and provide more than 8 percent of all rides in Greater Minnesota. Like the rural systems, the small urban systems operate demand response and/or deviated route services with one exception, Mankato. Greater Mankato Transit, the largest small urban system in Greater Minnesota, operates both fixed-route and dial-a-ride services.

Rural system fleet sizes range from a one-bus system in Pine River to 78 buses in Arrowhead. Small urban system fleets range from one-bus systems in Granite Falls and Stewartville to 16 buses in Mankato. Rural and small urban services also reported record setting ridership totals of nearly 3.6 million rides in 2008.

Funding For Greater Minnesota Transit Public transportation programs in Greater Minnesota are funded through a federal-state-local partnership. This formula sets a minimum local share of the total operating costs. The share of operating costs consists of a combination of revenue sources, including farebox receipts, auxiliary revenues and local tax levels. The remainder of the operating cost is paid from state and federal sources.

Mn/DOT and the Metropolitan Council serve as the recipients and administrators of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds. In general, FTA distrubutes operating and capital program funding based on the population of urban and rural areas. Mn/DOT receives the program and capital funding for all rural areas including Greater Minnesota cities with populations less than 50,000.

State revenue for Greater Minnesota transit consists of a biennial general fund appropriation and a portion of the revenue from the motor vehicle sales tax dedicated through a constitutional amendment to transportation. Greater Minnesota transit’s share of the funding will be 4% when the dedication of MVST is fully phased-in in FY2012. Greater Minnesota transit also received capital funds in past capital bonding bills for transit facilities.

Graph lI shows the costs shared by each level of government in Greater Minnesota for the past five years. Since January 1, 1984, all transit systems in Greater Minnesota have received state assistance through a fixed-share funding formula established in Minnesota Statutes, Section 174.24.

For calendar year 2009, the fixed local shares are as follows:

Elderly and Disabled...... 15% Rural (pop. less than 2,500) ...... 15% Small Urban (pop. 2,500-50,000) ...... 20% Urbanized (pop. more than 50,000)...... 20%

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Future State Funding Estimates

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Currently, some transit service in Greater Minnesota is Greater Minnesota ‐ 2011 provided to Minnesota residents through local funding that is Transit Operating Contracts ($61.3 million) not matched by state dollars. In order to meet the growing demand for additional transit service, many communities 17.7, 21.9, Local/Fares fund a portion of the service they provide solely with local 29% property tax or farebox dollars. 36% 10.4, Federal 11.3, In addition, transit systems around the state have needs for 18% 17% General Fund additional hours of service or additional areas that need MVST* transit service for which there are no identified funds.

The Office of Transit within the Minnesota Department of Transportation has studied the long-term need for transit service in Greater Minnesota. To reach the 2020 and 2030 bus service hour targets, the current network of bus service will need to be maintained and additional service will need to be provided.

Figure Error! No text of specified style in document.1 Summary of Future Needs to Meet Legislative Targets

*2015 capital cost includes vehicle replacements from 2010 to 2015 and new vehicle purchases needed to fill service gap between current levels and 2015 target *2025 capital cost includes vehicle replacements from 2015-2025 and new vehicle purchases needed to fill service gap between 2015 target and 2025 target

State/Federal Funding Gap The cost implications of meeting the service needs are substantial. In calculating the funding gap between projected funding and funds needed to meet the 2015 target, it is assumed that the combined state and federal share of total statewide operating funds is 82.7 percent and the local share covers the remaining 17.3 percent. State and federal revenues are expected to remain relatively flat over the near term. By 2015, these combined sources are anticipated to grow to $55.6 million over 2010 levels of $47.9 million. The small increase in operating revenue will not even cover the expected cost increases from inflation, leaving a $29.2 million state/federal funding gap to meet the 2015 target.

2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 Total Passenger Demand (millions of trips) 18.1 18.8 20.2 20.9 22.0 Service Hours to Meet Demand (millions) 1.8 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 Annual Operating Cost (millions) $103.7 $128.1 $153.8 $183.4 $216.9 Capital Cost - Vehicle Replacement (five-year totals) -- $50.2 $57.9 $66.7 $76.6 Capital Cost - New Vehicles (millions) $33.5 $6.9 $4.3 $4.6 $4.4

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MnDOT Funds Fiscal Year 2008

Sources of Minnesota state transportation funds

Federal Fuel Tax Credits

(18%) State Fuel Tax (28%) Motor Vehicle Sales Tax-

MVST (8%) Motor Vehicle Registration

Tax (21%) Federal Aid: Local Roads and

Multimodal (12%) Bond Proceeds and Gen Fund

Transfers (1%) Investment Income and Other

(11%)

Uses of Minnesota state transportation funds

State Aid for Local

Transportation (32%) Public Safety (3%) Multimodal Systems (11%) Operations and Maintenance

(10%) State Highway Construction

(32%) Infrastructure Investment and

Planning (7%) Debt Service (2%) General Support and Other

(3%)

Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Transit The Metropolitan Council is responsible for Twin Cities public transportation. The Council administers the regional fare structure and coordinates transit funding.

Metro Transit Metro Transit, as the Twin Cities' largest operator of bus and rail transportation, provides about 85 percent of regular route service hours in the Metro region. It operated a fleet of 919 buses and 27 rail cars in 2008 on 120 routes, achieving an annual ridership of nearly 82 million, the highest in 27 years. The fleet operates from five bus garages and a rail operations and maintenance center. It is supported by other facilities, including a 7 bus fleet service center, a dispatch center, a police department, an operations support center and central offices.

With the Hiawatha light rail line and its bus operations, Metro Transit's average weekday ridership in 2008 was 268,000.

Transit Link Dial-A-Ride Service Transit Link service, also known as dial-a-ride, is a shared-ride minibus or van service for the general public in the seven-county metropolitan area. Transit Link rides must be reserved in advance.

Transit Link service generally operates outside areas covered by regular route transit. Riders will experience one of three kinds of trips:  Destination can be reached by regular route transit  Destination requires combination of regular route transit and Transit Link service  Destination only accessible via Transit Link service

To assure Transit Link service does not duplicate regular route service, each trip will be evaluated for eligibility. To be eligible for Transit Link, the trip must not be possible by regular route transit.

Transit Link dial-a-ride transit service will be phased in across the seven-county Twin Cities metro area during the first five months of 2010. Once fully phased-in, there will be five service areas across the metro area.

More detailed information can be found at: http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/TransitLink/index.htm

Metro Mobility Metro Mobility, the regional Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Special Transportation Services (STS) paratransit program for people with disabilities, contracts with private operators to provide the majority of its service, particularly in the urban core. Paratransit service is also contracted with two non-profits, two county providers, and a taxi company. While many Metro Mobility trips are demand response and scheduled on an individual basis, other service includes agency contracts covering arranged or repetitive group trips and premium same day taxi service.

Suburban Transit Services Since 1984, metro-area commuters have taken millions of trips provided by members of the Suburban Transit Association. In fact, from 2003-2007, ridership on STA member buses increased by 40 percent.

Southwest Transit SouthWest Transit (SWT) was created in 1986 under a Joint Powers Agreement between Chanhassen, Chaska, and Eden Prairie to provide the three cities with public transit service. SWT is governed by a seven person Commission. Each of the three cities is represented by an appointed member as well as an elected official. The seventh member is a rider representative.

SouthWest Transit saw double digit ridership growth from 2004-2008. The system now provides over one million rides annually. SouthWest Transit has one of the highest percentage use of park and ride stalls in the region and has an on-time performance record of 99% - the highest in the region and among the best in the entire country.

SouthWest Transit has been recognized for its outstanding performance numerous times, including: o 1999 & 2008 Transit System of the Year in Minnesota o 2000 State of Minnesota Management 8

SWT has 60 buses and offers service to Downtown and Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, and Southdale, as well as service between Chanhassen, Chaska, and Eden Prairie, Monday through Friday. Find out how to get on the bus at: http://www.swtransit.org/

Minnesota Valley Transit The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) is the public transportation agency for five suburbs located approximately 15 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, and Rosemount in Dakota County, and Savage in Scott County. The MVTA is one of six independent transportation agencies formed in the late 1980's under state legislation that allowed outer-ring suburbs to "opt-out" of centrally provided transportation services. The MVTA was founded in 1990 and began offering transit service to its communities in 1991.

The majority of riders use the MVTA bus to travel to work (97 percent) and most travel 4-5 days per week on the bus (90percent). Some 97 percent of survey respondents reported that the MVTA service meets or exceeds their expectations.

Learn more at: http://www.mvta.com/

Maple Grove Transit The City of Maple Grove established the Maple Grove Transit (MGT) in June 1990 under the Replacement Transit Service Demonstration legislation commonly referred as “opt-out” transit. The City contracts with transit companies to provide the transit service. The City’s Transit Administrator conducts transit planning, administration, customer service, and marketing. MGT has an eight-member Transit Commission to provide user input into operation and planning. MGT has commuter express service to and from Minneapolis utilizing 42 round trips on six routes and also offers a dial-a-ride program using four vans for paratransit service within Maple Grove. Currently, Maple Grove Transit averages about 3,000 riders per day.

More information is available at: http://www.maplegrovetransit.org

Shakopee Transit The city's public transit service offers van pools, circulator and commuter bus service to residents of Shakopee and neighboring communities. Services are designed to compliment those provided by Scott County, the Metropolitan Council, neighboring communities and transit providers.

The community circulator and summer shuttles transport people to common destinations within the city. The BlueXpress bus service transports commuters to and from downtown Minneapolis, Monday through Friday. Learn more at: http://www.ci.shakopee.mn.us/transit.cfm

Plymouth Metrolink Plymouth Metrolink was established in 1984 by the City of Plymouth. It was the first transit system created under a state law allowing suburban cities to establish their own transit programs. Plymouth's goals are to provide local service linked to the rest of the regional transit system.

The city contracts with First Transit to provide Plymouth Metrolink bus service. In 2009, Plymouth Metrolink provided more than 450,000 passenger trips on three types of service: Express buses to downtown Minneapolis, Reverse Commute service from Minneapolis to Plymouth, and Dial-A-Ride will-call service to local destinations. Visit: Plymouth Metrolink online.

Prior Lake The City of Prior Lake has three transit service options: The Lake Lines Express to Downtown, the Prior Lake Circulator Bus and the Local Laker Link Shuttle. More information at: http://www.cityofpriorlake.com/transit.shtml

9 The Metropolitan Council set a goal of doubling transit ridership in the Transportation Policy Plan (which was adopted in 2004) to about 147 million rides by 2030. Since setting that goal, transit ridership has grown steadily. Through 2009, ridership remains on target for reaching this 2030 goal.

Transit operating funding was shifted from the property tax to this revenue source in 2002, with metropolitan area transit receiving 20.5% of statewide MVST collections. In 2007, the constitutional dedication of MVST to transportation purposes increased the metropolitan transit share of MVST from 20.5% to 36%, phased-in over a five year period from 2007 to 2012. Despite receiving this increased share of MVST, in FY2009 the MVST revenues received for metropolitan area transit ($122M at 28% of MVST) were slightly lower than the amount received in FY2003 ($124M at 20.5% of MVST). Once the MVST revenues are fully phased in, collections will need to increase by at least three percent to five percent annually just to enable the transit system to maintain its existing levels of service.

Unmet Needs – Metropolitan Area Transit *Estimate of revenue needed to meet Metropolitan Council 2030 plan by 2020

Unmet Capital $272 million/yr (TPP, table 7‐47) $2.45 billion total Minus fed contribution $136 million/yr (TPP, table 7‐47 $1.2 billion total Unmet Operating $132.5 million/yr (TPP, table 7.49) $1.2 billion total Unmet Total $269 million/yr $2.4 billion TOTAL over 9 years

In the 2008 legislative session, the metropolitan counties were given the authority to levy a quarter-cent (¼ percent) sales tax. Five of the counties voted to implement the tax and form a joint powers board known as the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB).

The new sales tax revenues will have a very positive impact on the region’s ability to develop a strong transitway system by 2030. However, this revenue cannot be used to supplant existing funding, to operate or expand the base bus system or for operating projects that did not receive capital funds from this source. If the regional goal of doubling transit ridership is going to be met, additional funding above the new sales tax and MVST revenue from the constitutional dedication will need to be identified.

It is not expected that the current transit operating funding sources will grow at a level to allow for service expansion.

Under 2008 transportation funding legislation, it was expected that new rail transitway operating expenses would be paid 50 percent from the county transit sales tax and 50 percent from additional state appropriations. CTIB has provided 50% of the funding for Northstar commuter rail operations which began in late 2009. However, during the 2009 legislative session no new state funding was received for Northstar operations and the Council’s general fund appropriations for bus operations were reduced.

It is projected that by 2030, the transit system will carry an additional 60 million rides over 2007 ridership levels. In 2030, bus transitways will carry 20 million additional rides per year on arterial street and highway BRT lines and express buses with transit advantages. To reach regional ridership goals, the base bus

10 system will also need 20 million new rides to replace current bus rides shifting to future transitways. Transit operating in mixed traffic is being increasingly affected by congestion both on highways and on city streets. Transit trips are taking longer and trip times are more variable as buses are caught in congestion. Maintaining and expanding transit advantages such as managed lanes and bus-only shoulders become even more important as congestion continues to increase.

Transit Capital Revenue The primary funding sources traditionally used for transit capital expenditures include: property tax supported regional transit capital (RTC) bonds; federal funds including federal formula earnings, Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) funds, discretionary appropriations and New Starts funding for transitways; and state funds including general obligation bonds, general funds and trunk highway bonds where allowable. In addition, the new county sales tax offers a new source of funding for transitway capital and operating costs and park-and- ride construction.

With the Legislature’s periodic authorization, the Metropolitan Council issues bonds to fund transit capital projects. These bonds are used to buy buses; rehab vehicles; build transit hubs, shelters, garages, park-and-ride lots and other facilities and purchase fare collection, communication, and other support systems and equipment. They also provide local match for federal capital project funds. The capital bonds are paid for with a property tax levy within the Transit Taxing District, an area within the region roughly equal to the transit service area as defined in 1977 statutes. In recent years, RTC funding has totaled $33-34 million annually.

The Council currently operates under a policy whereby the RTC expenditure level is not allowed to increase at a rate greater than one percent per year. This growth rate allows the Council to meet the goal of no growth in the impact of regional property taxes on typical taxpayers. There have been instances in recent years where the Legislature has not passed additional regional transit bonding authorization. This causes a shortage of funds to accomplish the Council’s planned capital improvement program (CIP) and results in delayed or cancelled capital projects.

11 Vision for Twin Cities Transitways

Federal New Starts funding is the source used to fund major rail and dedicated busway projects. New Starts funding is awarded nationally on a competitive basis through the Federal Transit Administration. Projects must apply and receive approval to enter preliminary engineering and must also apply again to enter final design and construction. The current federal process requires the projects to meet a specified cost effectiveness index (CEI) at each point before the project can proceed. If the project meets the required CEI and is accepted, the federal funds will usually pay for 50 percent of the total project costs, including the preliminary engineering phase.

In this region, the assumed formula for the remainder of the capital costs would be: 10 percent from the local entities where the project is located (usually the county regional rail authorities), 30 percent using sales tax funds awarded from the CTIB and 10 percent from the state, most likely using state bonds.

The region should pursue funding for multiple transitways in order to speed up the completion of this vision.

In addition to matching New Starts funding, state bond fund requests are considered to be a major source of funding for transit capital investments including transitway studies, park-and-ride construction, transit stations, bus garages and investments in Bus Rapid Transit. Over the past decade state bond fund appropriations for transit have averaged about $40 million per year, though this amount can vary significantly depending on the project needs.

The new county sales tax will provide a significant amount of funding for transitway investments. The funds will be distributed by the Counties Transit Improvement Board or CTIB. The funds are available for transitway capital and operating expenses, park-and-ride facilities, and a small amount for bike and pedestrian programs. The current revenue estimate is $88million annually from the quarter cent sales tax. It is assumed that, at a minimum, the CTIB funds will be used to provide 30 percent of the capital funding for engineering and construction of any future New Starts transitway project and 50 percent of the on-going operating costs of the projects. Under the CTIB investment guidelines, funds would also be available for 30% of the Highway BRT transitway capital investments and could provide 50% of the funding for new bus service in a BRT corridor.

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Appendix A Minnesota Transit Systems

Congress Company Address City Phone Contact E-mail House District Senate District ional County Website District Albert Lea Transit 2205 Myers Road Albert Lea 507-379-1111 Garry Hart [email protected] 27A 27 1 Freeborn www.albertleatransit.org Anoka County 2100 Third Ave., Anoka 763-422-7075 Tim Kirchoff [email protected] 17A, 25B, 47A, 17, 25, 47, 48, 3, 4, 5, 6, Anoka http://ww2.anokacounty.us/v3_transit/i Traveler Room 233 47B, 48A, 48B, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 7, 8 ndex.aspx 49A, 49B, 50A, 50B, Arrowhead Transit 702 Third Avenue Virginia 218-749- Jack Larson [email protected] 3A, 3B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 8 Aitkin, www.aeoa.org South 2912X107 6B, 7A, 7B, 8A Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochichiing , Lake, St. Louis Austin-Mower County 201 - 1st Street Austin 507-437-9549 Craig Oscarson [email protected] 27A, 27B 27 1 Mower www.amcattransit.org Area Transit NE Becker County Transit PO Box 1637 Detroit Lakes 218-847-1674 Rusty Haskins [email protected] 2A, 9B, 10B 2, 9, 10 7 Becker www.co.becker.mn.us/dept/transit Benson Heartland 1410 Kansas Benson 320-843-4775 Rob Wolfington [email protected] 20A 20 7 Swift www.bensonmn.org Express Avenue Brainerd & Crow Wing 501 Laurel Street Brainerd 218-828-6172 Tom Jay [email protected] 4B, 12A, 12B 4, 12 8 Crow Wing www.ci.brainerd.mn.us Public Transit Brown County 1117 Center New Ulm 507-354-8246 Bob Apitz [email protected] 21B 21 1 Brown http://www.co.brown.mn.us Heartland Express Street, P.O. Box 788 Chisago-Isanti 245 2nd Avenue Cambridge 763-689-8130 Craig Rempp [email protected] 8B, 17A, 17B 8, 17 8 Chisago, www.co.chisago.mn.us Heartland Express SE Isanti Cottonwood County 900 Third Windom 507-831-5669 Kelly [email protected] 22B 22 1 Cottonwood www.co.cottonwood.mn.us/transit.html Transit Avenue, Thongvivong .mn.us Courthouse DARTS 1645 Marthaler West St. Paul 651-234-2276 Kevin Raun [email protected] 36A, 36B, 37A, 36, 37, 38, 39, 2, 4 Dakota www.darts1.org Lane 37B, 38A, 38B, 40, 57 39A, 39B, 40A, 57A, Dawson Heartland 675 Chestnut St., Dawson 320-769-2154 Melva Larson [email protected] 20A 20 7 Lac Qui www.dawsonmn.com/government.html Express P.O. Box 552 Parle Duluth Transit 2402 W. Duluth 218-722-4426 Dennis Jensen [email protected] 6B, 7A, 7B 6, 7 8 St. Louis www.duluthtransit.com Michigan St. ext306 East Grand Forks 600 DeMers E. Grand Forks 218-773-0124 Earl Haugen [email protected] 1B 1 7 Polk www.grandforksgov.com/bus Transit Ave., P.O. Box 373 Far North Public 215 S. Main, P.O. Roseau 218-463-3238 Steve Butler [email protected] 1A, 3A 1, 3 7 Roseau, www.farnorthtransit.org Transit Box 189 Lake of the Congress Company Address City Phone Contact E-mail House District Senate District ional County Website District Woods Faribault County 415 N. Main, P.O. Blue Earth 507-526-7433 Bonita Zimmer [email protected] 24A, 24B 24 1 Faribault www.co.faribault.mn.us Prairie Express Box 130 Faribault Flyer 208 N.W. First Faribault 507-333-0376 Kim Lang [email protected] 26B 26 2 Rice www.ci.faribault.mn.us/departments/tra Avenue nsit Fosston Transit 220 East 1st Fosston 218-435-1959 Charles Lucken [email protected] 2A 2 7 Polk www.fosston.com Street; P.O. Box 607 Granite Falls 885 Prentice Granite Falls 320-564-3011 Dennis Smith [email protected] 20B 20 7 Chippewa, www.granitefalls.com/heartland.html Heartland Express Street Yellow Medicine Hastings - TRAC 101 4th Street E. Hastings 651-437-8722 Melanie Mesko [email protected] 36A, 36B, 37A, 36, 37, 38, 39, 2, 4 Dakota, www.ci.hastings.mn.us Lee 37B, 38A, 38B, 40, 57 Washington 39A, 39B, 40A, 57A, Hibbing Area Transit 401 E. 21st St., Hibbing 218-262- Sherri Lindstrom [email protected] 5B 5 8 St. Louis www.hibbing.mn.us City Hall 3486X714 Hopkins Hop-A-Ride 1010 First St. S. Hopkins 952-548-6342 Nancy Anderson [email protected] 44A 44 3, 5 Hennepin Hubbard County 301 Court Park Rapids 218-732-9328 Linda Bair [email protected] 2B, 4B 2, 4 8 Hubbard www.co.hubbard.mn.us Heartland Express Street,(Courthous e) Kandiyohi Area Transit 1320 22nd St. Willmar 320-214-7433 Tiffany Collins [email protected] 13A, 13B 13 7 Kandiyohi www.katbus.org SW, PO Box 186 La Crescent Apple 315 Main St. La Crescent 608-789-7350 Keith Carlson [email protected] 31A, 31B 31 1 Houston www.cityoflacrosse.org Express Laker Lines 4646 Dakota St. Prior Lake 952-447-9812 Jane Kansier [email protected] 35A 35 2 Scott www.cityofpriorlake.com/transit.html SE LeSueur Heartland 601 S. 5th St. LeSueur 507-665-6211 Sandi Owen [email protected] 25A 25 2, 7 Le Sueur www.cityoflesueur.com/transit Express Lincoln County 318 N. Rebecca Ivanhoe 507-694-1813 Cara Nielsen [email protected] 20A 20 7 Lincoln www.co.lincoln.mn.us/departments/tra Heartland Express Street, P.O. Box nsportation.htm 29 Mahnomen County 311 N. Main, PO Mahnomen 218-935-2560 Cindy Marihart [email protected]. 2A 2 7 Mahnomen www.co.mahnomen.mn.us Heartland Express Box 460 us Mankato - Greater 10 Civic Center Mankato 507-387-8655 Mark Anderson [email protected] 23A, 23B, 25A 23, 25 1 Blue Earth, www.ci.mankato.mn.us Mankato Transit Plaza. PO Box Nicollet System 3368 Maple Grove Transit 12800 Arbor Maple Grove 763-494-6005 Michael Opatz [email protected] 32A, 32B 32 3 Hennepin www.maplegrovetransit.org Lakes Parkway, PO Box 1180 Martin County Express 201 Lake Fairmont 507-238-3126 Scott Higgins [email protected] 24A 24 1 Martin www.co.martin.mn.us/Countyinfo/mcex Avenue, Room press.htm 100 Congress Company Address City Phone Contact E-mail House District Senate District ional County Website District Meeker County Public 218 N. Holcombe Litchfield 320-693-7794 Donna Anderson [email protected] 18A, 18B 18 7 Meeker www.augustanahomes.org/transit1.ht Transit Avenue m MN Valley Transit 100 E. Highway Burnsville 952-882-7500 Beverley Miller [email protected] 35B, 37A, 37B, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40 2 Dakota, www.mvta.com Authority 13 38A, 39A, 40A Scott Montevideo Heartland 103 Canton Montevideo 320-269-6575 Nick [email protected] 20B 20 7 Chippewa www.montevideomn.org Express Avenue, P.O. Box Haggenmiller 517 Moorhead 650 - 23rd Street Fargo 701-476-6686 Lori Van Beek [email protected] 9A, 9B 9 7 Clay www.matbus.com Metropolitan Area N. Transit Morris Transit P.O. Box 438 Morris 320-589-1000 Eugene [email protected] 11A 11 7 Stevens www.ci.morris.mn.us/transit.php Krosschell Murray County 2439 Broadway Slayton 507-836-6648 Michelle [email protected] 22A 22 1 Murray www.slayton.govoffice.com Heartland Express Ave. Miranowski NE Suburban Transit 14190 Xenon Ramsey 763-712-9405 James Norman [email protected] 55A, 55B 55 4 Ramsey, Street NW Suite Washington 2 Northfield Transit 801 Washington Northfield 507-645-3037 Brian Erickson [email protected] 25B, 36B 25, 36 2 Rice, Dakota www.ci.northfield.mn.us/cityservices/tr Street ansit Paul Bunyan Transit 706 Railroad St. Bemidji 218-751-8765 Gregory Negard [email protected] 2B, 4A 2, 4 7, 8 Beltrami www.paulbunyantransit.com SE Pine River Ride With P.O. Box 87 Pine River 218-587-2440 Barbara [email protected] 4B 4 8 Cass www.pinerivermn.com/city.htm Us Bus Jorgenson Pipestone County 811 5th Street S. Pipestone 507-825-6713 Marc Hall [email protected] 22A 22 1 Pipestone www.pipestone-county.com Transit E. Plymouth Metrolink 3400 Plymouth Plymouth 763-509-5535 Bernie Maciej [email protected] 33A, 43A, 43B, 45A 33, 43, 45 3 Hennepin www.ci.plymouth.mn.us Blvd. Prairie Five Rides 7th and Montevideo 320-269-8727 Richard Olson [email protected] 20A, 20B 20 7 Swift, Lac www.prairiefive.com Washington Qui Parle, #302, P.O. Box Chippewa, 159 Big Stone, Yellow Medicine Prairieland Transit 1106 - 3rd Ave., Worthington 507-376-3322 Karen DeBoer [email protected] 22A, 22B 22 1 Nobles PO Box 787 Prism Express 730 Florida Golden Valley 763-529-1252 Courtney Whited [email protected] 43A, 43B, 44B, 43, 44, 45, 46 3, 5 Hennepin www.prismmpls.com/programs/prisme Avenue S. 45A, 45B, 46B xpress.html Rainbow Rider Transit 249 Poplar Lowry 320-283-5065 Harold Jennissen [email protected] 9B, 11A, 11B, 13A 9, 11, 13 7 Douglas, www.rainbowriderbus.com Avenue., P.O. Pope, Box 136 Stevens, Traverse Ramsey Star Express 7550 Sunwood Ramsey 763-427-1410 Brian Olson [email protected] 48B, 58B, 59A, 48, 58, 59, 62 3, 5, 6 Hennepin, www.ci.ramsey.mn.us Dr. N. W. 62A, 62B Anoka Congress Company Address City Phone Contact E-mail House District Senate District ional County Website District Red Lake Transit 25515 Highway 1 Red Lake 218-679-2910 Michael Ness [email protected] 2B, 4A 2, 4 7, 8 Red Lake P.O. Box 95 Renville County 612 E. Lincoln Olivia 320-523-3589 Rachel [email protected] 20B 20 7 Renville www.co.renville.mn.us Heartland Express Schneiderman RiverRider Public 17211 - 198th Big Lake 763-263-0101 Chad Gessell [email protected] 15B, 16A, 16B, 15, 16, 19, 32, 48 6 Sherburne, www.riverridertransit.com Transit Avenue NW, Box 18B, 19A, 19B, Wright 395 32A, 48A Rochester Public 201 4th Street Rochester 507-328-2424 Anthony Knauer [email protected] 29A, 29B, 30A, 30B 29, 30 1 Olmsted www.rochesterbus.com Transit S.E. Room 108 Rock County 1110 North Blue Luverne 507-283-5058 Terrie Gulden [email protected] 22A 22 1 Rock www.co.rock.mn.us/page14.html Heartland Express Mound Ave, PO Box 713 SmartLink Transit 828 First Avenue Shakopee 952-496-8341 Troy Beam [email protected] 25A, 25B, 34A, 25, 34, 35, 40 2 Scott, Carver www.smartlinktransit.com East 34B, 35A, 35B, 40A SEMCAC 204 South Elm Rushford 507-864-8238 Erlene Welshons [email protected] 26B, 27B, 28B, 27, 28, 29, 31 1 Dodge, www.semcac.org Transportation P.O. Box 549 29A, 31A, 31B Fillmore, Houston, Steele, Winona Shakopee Transit 129 S. Holmes Shakopee 952-233-9300 R. Michael Leek [email protected] 35A 35 2 Scott www.ci.shakopee.mn.us/transit.cfm Street Southwest Transit 13500 Eden Prairie 952-949-2287 Linda Spevacek [email protected] 34A, 34B, 40B, 34, 40, 42, 43, 2, 3, 5, 6 Carver, www.swtransit.org Technology Dr. 42A, 42B, 43A, 44, 45, 46, 58, Hennepin 43B, 44A, 44B, 59, 60 45A, 45B, 46A, 46B, 58A, 58B, 59A, 59B, 60A, 60B, St. Cloud Metro Bus 665 Franklin St. Cloud 320-251-1499 David Tripp [email protected] 14A, 15A, 15B, 14, 15 6 Benton, www.ridemetrobus.com Avenue NE Ext. 106 Sherburne, Stearns St. Peter Transit 227 S. Front St. Peter 507-934-0668 Dwile [email protected] 23A, 25A 23, 25 1, 2 Nicollet www.saintpetermn.gov/transit Street Kwasniewski Steele County Area 630 Florence Owatonna 507-444-7500 Kelly Harder [email protected] 26A, 26B 26 1 Steele www.co.steele.mn.us/scat/scat.html Transit Avenue Stewartville Heartland 105 East 1st Stewartville 507-533-4745 Barbara [email protected] 30B 30 1 Olmsted www.stewartvillemn.com Express Street, P.O. Box Neubauer 275 Three Rivers 55049 - 241st Plainview 507-421-1668 Amy Repinski [email protected] 28A, 28B, 30B, 36B 28, 30, 36 1, 2 Goodhue, www.threeriverscap.org/programs_tran Hiawathaland Transit Avenue Wabasha sp.html Timber Trails Public 905 East Forest Mora 320-679-6462 Helen Pieper [email protected] 16A 16 8 Mille Lacs www.timbertrailstransit.com Transit, Inc. Ave., Suite 127 Trailblazer Transit 112 Fifth Street, Gaylord 507-237-3500 Gary Ludwig [email protected] 18A, 23A, 25A 18, 23, 25 7 McLeod, www.trailblazertransit.com PO Box 88 Sibley Congress Company Address City Phone Contact E-mail House District Senate District ional County Website District Transit Alternatives, 1225 N. Tower Fergus Falls 218-998-3002 Daryn Toso [email protected] 10A, 10B 10 7 Otter Tail www.paiff.org/transit.php Inc./Otter Express Road Tri-Cap Transit 1200 23rd Waite Park 320-257-4445 Linda Elfstrand [email protected] 12B, 13A, 14A, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 6, 7, 8 Benton, www.tricap.org/transportation.html#he Connection Avenue S. P.O. 14B, 15A, 15B, 16A Morrison, art Box 683 Stearns Tri-Valley Heartland 1345 Fairfax Crookston 218-281-0700 Cindy Pic [email protected] 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B 1, 2 7 Marshall, www.tvoc.org/heartland.htm Express Avenue Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Clearwater University of 511 Washington Minneapolis 612-625-1859 William Roberts [email protected] Metro Metro 2, 3, 4, 5, Hennepin, www.umn.edu/pts/busing.htm Minnesota Transit Ave. S.E. 6 Ramsey Virginia Dial-A-Ride 327 S. 1st Street Virginia 218-748-7500 Sherry Erickson [email protected] 5A 5 8 St. Louis www.virginia- mn.com/transportation.html Wadena County 124 First Street Wadena 218-631-5730 Pam Jenson [email protected] 10B, 11B 10, 11 7, 8 Todd, www.co.wadena.mn.us/friendly%20rid Friendly River Transit SE Wadena er.htm Watonwan Take Me 1304 7th Ave. S. St. James 507-375-7385 Marjorie Smith [email protected]. 21B, 24A 21, 24 1 Watonwan www.co.watonwan.mn.us There P.O. Box 467 us Western Community 1400 S. Saratoga Marshall 507-537-1416 Jeanette Porter [email protected] 21A, 21B, 22B 21, 22 1, 7 Jackson, www.wcainc.org Action St. Lyon, Redwood, Lincoln, Cottonwood Winona Transit 207 Lafeyette Winona 507-457-8200 Monica Hennessy [email protected] 28B, 31A 28, 31 1 Winona www.cityofwinona-mn.com Service Street, P.O. Box Mohan 378