Metro Transit has a 3-year plan dubbed “Network Now,” which is designed to determine growth and expansion of bus routes.
“There’s a lot of demand for service that is suburb to suburb trying to connect across communities as compared to the traditional format which has been more downtown focused,” said Cyndi Harper from Metro Transit route planning.
The rate of expansion will be dictated by the ability to hire operators and support staff. The pandemic has altered and changed commuting habits in the North Metro.
“The days of everyone going downtown for 9 to 5 jobs, eight hours a day, five days a week are behind us,” Harper said. “This is our opportunity to restructure our commuter express service as well.”
If the “Network Now” vision does happen, it will have a direct impact on Blaine and other cities.
“In Anoka County – up in the north metro specifically – we are looking at a couple of new bus routes including route 725 which will serve Northtown then head west across the river to connect with Brooklyn Park and Osseo,” Harper said. “We are going to be consolidating service into key express network routes. There’s going to be two of them. One coming from the Foley park and ride in Coon Rapids, route 850, and then the other from the 95th Avenue and I-35W park and ride in Blaine and that’s route 250. Those will both have service every 15 minutes or better during the rush hours as well as service throughout the midday.”
Funds available
The funding for this expansion is available because of a new regional sales tax.
Harper believes a strong bus system in places such as the Northtown hub, are critical for the transportation needs of some residents. Driving is not an option for everyone.
“Either they can’t afford a vehicle, or they have some sort of a disability and they choose not to drive,” Harper said. “Or they’re not old enough to drive or they’re too old to feel comfortable driving. As much as there’s the stereotype of everybody drives in the suburbs, the more you start looking around there’s a lot of people who don’t.”
For some residents buses are their only way to get around.
“Even if you don’t necessarily use transit,” Harper said. “I guarantee you that you interact with people every day who do rely on transit.”
Metro Transit has a public comment period on the proposed expansion that goes through November 15. To provide your feedback go to their website, metrotransit.org.
