Memo - Metro Transit Service Adjustments
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES:
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Rick Getschow, Hopkins City Manager
April 21, 2005 (For the April 26, 2005 Meeting)
Metro Transit Proposed 2005 Service Adjustments
Background:
Metro Transit has proposed service cuts to several bus routes serving the City of
Hopkins, They have hosted several community meetings throughout the metro
area to gauge feedback from interested parties on their proposed cutbacks, The
cutbacks are due to a projected shortfall of $60 million over the next two years
due mainly to rising health insurance costs and slow revenue growth from vehicle
sales taxes,
Based on the fact that the service adjustments include the elimination of several
Hopkins routes, it was requested that representatives of Metro Transit provide
information to the Council on the basis for the cuts and the effects of the cuts on
bus service in Hopkins, Steve Mahowald and Arlene McCarthy from Metro
Transit will be at the meeting to provide information and address the City Council.
Metro Transit will accept comments on the proposed service changes until
May 1, This April 26 work session is the last Council meeting prior to May 1, If
the Council wishes to take a position on the service adjustments, consensus or
action would be requested at this meeting, The draft resolution in the packet is
based on a resolution that the City of St. Louis Park drafted in opposition to the
proposed service adjustments,
Enclosures:
1, Pamphlet, "Comment on Proposed Fare and Service Changes"
2, Proposed 2005 Transit Service Adjustments in Hopkins
3, Maps- 2005 Proposed Service Adjustments Weekday Plan in Hopkins
4, April 18, 2005 Letter to Metro Transit from State Representative
Steve Simon
5, Draft Resolution 2005-041: Resolution Opposing Reduction in Transit
Service in Hopkins and Supporting a Separate Funding Source from
Public Transit in the Region,
Council Action Requested:
Direct staff on how to proceed with a potential city position on the proposed
transit service reductions following a discussion with Metro Transit
representatives,
am commenting on the proposed
o Fare increase o Transit s
o Metro Mobility Route_
Fare increase Day of week:
o Weekday
o Saturday
o Sunday
Comments:
These routes would operate fewer hours or have
fewer trips:
3,4,5,6,7,9, II, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19,23,24,25,
27,32,46,61,62,63,64,65,67,68,70,71,74,
75, 94, 133, 135, 144, 146, 156,250,260,262,
265,270,275,294,361,452,515,535,538,
539,540,542,553,554,576,587,597,675,
715,716,723,755/756,761,762,763,764,
766, 850,
e---
Change
25t
increase
50t
increase
Metro Mobility/ADA Service fare increases
C~ Proposed
$2.25 $2,50
$3,50
$3,00
Non-rush
Rush
The proposed fare changes shown below would
take effect July I, 2005, and would apply to all
regional bus service - Metro Transit, Metropolitan
Council regional routes, suburban providers, Metro
Mobility and community dial-a-ride services,
Metro Mobility and other ADA Services
Metro Mobility and other ADA services: Pick-
ups and drops would be available within one
mile of a remaining regular bus route that pro-
vides, primarily, all-day, fixed route service, The
service area would no longer follow municipal
boundaries,
A portion of the proposed reductions would take
effect in September 2005, others in December 2005,
Cash fare increases
Current Proposed
www.metrocouncil.org
Visit this web site to read route-by-route
summaries of the proposed service changes
and submit comments electronically,
Metro Transit stores
Pick up a copy of route details at any Metro
Transit store
Downtown Minneapolis
719 Marquette Ave,
Nearly 70 percent of Metro Transit routes and
Metropolitan Council regional routes operatiog
on weekdays would be impacted by a proposed
10 percent reduction of regular-route service,
Some routes would be eliminated entirely, while
others would have specific reductions, such as
cutting weekend service or reducing hours of
service or the frequency of buses, Reductions
were determined based on ridership and
comparing operating cost to ridership revenue,
These routes would be eliminated:
8, 25 (Sanrrday), 65 (Sunday), 70 (Sunday), 75
(weekend), 76, 87 (Sanrrday), 219 (Sanrrday),
223,224,225*,226,227 (Sanrrday),234*,
301/304,302,303,322,362*,415*,417,588,
604,605,612*,614*,641,661,670*,671*,712,
765*,801,818*,827*,831 (Sanrrday),
* Other routes or diaI-a-ride service would serve portions of
these eliminated routes.
$1,50
$2.00
$1.25
$1.75
Local
Non-rush hour
Rush hour
Express
Non-rush hour
Rush hour
$2,00
$2.75
The base cash fare increase of $0.25 would apply to all
Northstar Commuter Coach riders.
$1,75
$2,50
31-Day Pass prices
Current Proposed
$50,00
$76,00
$42,00
$66.00
$76.00
$104.00
$66,00
$95.00
Local
Non-rush hour
Rush hour
Express
Non-rush hour
Rush hour
level
transit center
Downtown SI. Paul
101 East Fifth St.. US Bank Center, skyway
Mall of America Bloomington
50 East Broadway - lower level
By mail
Call 651-602-1500 (ITY 651-291-0904)
to request a written copy of proposed
service changes,
Portions of these routes would be eliminated or
restructured:
7,9,12,14,17,24,25,27,62,64,67,68,71,75,
94,135,146,219,225,227,234,250,262,265,
270,294,350,362,415,452,553,557,578,589,
597,612,614,664,665,667,668,670,671,674,
675,678,755/756,758,762,765,766,805,818,
824,827,829,850,852,854,
Stored Value Cards
Stored Value Cards will remain available in $10,
$20 and $40 amounts, each with a 10% bonus
amount. The $40 card's ride value will decrease
from $45 to $44,
Comment In
proposed
The Metropolitan Council is proposing
fare and service changes needed to
address a projected funding shortfall of
$60 million over the next two years due to
rising fuel and health insurance costs plus
slow revenue growth from vehicle sales
taxes - a major source of transit funding,
To address the funding gap, the Council
must reduce costs, improve efficiency and
raise revenue,
Look inside for a summary of proposed
changes and ways to comment.
~ Metropolitan Council
You do nol have to attend a hearing to be heard,
Comments can be submitted:
west Metro: April 12
6:30 to 8:30 p,m,
Hopkins Center for the Arts
1111 Main St., Hopkins
Regional Data Center
Metropolitan Council
230 East 5th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
By returning this comment card by mai
or to a transit store,
By U,S, Mail to
St. Paul: April 13
11:30 a,m, to 1:30 p,m,
Metropolitan Council- Chambers
230 East Fifth St., downtown St. Paul
Minneapolis: April 14
4:30 to 6:30 p,m,
Metro Transit - Heywood Chambers
560 Sixth Ave, N" Minneapolis
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data,center@metc,state,mn,us
www,metrocouncil,org
(TIY 651-291-0904)
Comments will be accepted until
5 p.m, on May 1, 2005,
to
By e-mai
Online at
By fax to 651-602-1464
By phone to 651-602-1500
Minneapolis: April 18
11:30 a,m, to 1:30 p,m,
Minneapolis City Hall- Room 220
350 South Fifth St., downtown Minneapolis
East Metro: April 18
6:30 to 8:30 p,m,
Maplewood Community Center
2100 White Bear Ave" Maplewood
North Metro: April 19
6:30 to 8:30 p,m,
Fridley Community Center - Media Room 1/109
6085 Seventh St. NE, Fridley
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South Metro: April 20
5:00 to 7:00 p,m,
Burnsville City Hall- Lower Level Community Room
100 Civic Center Pkwy" Bumsville
All hearing locations are fully accessible and
served by transit. For Metro Transit schedule
information, call 612-373-3333 or try the online
trip planoer at www,metrotransit.org,
~ Metropolitan Council
06-048-02-05
Register in advance to speak at a public hearing
by calling the Metropolitan Council Data Center
at 651-602-1140 (TTY 651-291-0904), Upon
request, reasonable accommodations to persons
with disabilities will be provided,
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Proposed 2005 Transit Service Adjustments In Hopkins
Route Description of ChanQes
12 Opus II - Hopkins - Excelsior Blvd, - Uptown. DT Mpls,
Weekday - Service would be reduced from every half-hour to hourly between 10 a.m,
and 2 p,m. and after 8 p.m, These trips would be eliminated: eastbound trips that leave
Opportunity Court at 12:05 a,m. and 1 :05 a.m.; the westbound trip that leaves Uptown at
11:29 p.m, and the westbound trip that leaves Hennepin & Washington at 12:09 a.m.
Saturday - Service would be reduced from every half-hour to hourly, Service to Hopkins
Care Center and 11 th Ave. (Westbrook) and Opus south of downtown Hopkins would be
eliminated, These trips would be eiimlnated: the eastbound trips that leave Mainstreet &
17th Ave, at 5:09 a,m. and 6:11 a.m., and the westbound trips that ieave Hennepin &
Washington at 5:07 a.m. and 12:13 a.m.
Sunday - Service would be reduced from every half-hour to hourly. Service to Hopkins
Care Center and 11 th Ave, (Westbrook) and Opus south of downtown Hopkins would be
eliminated, The westbound trip that leaves Hennepin & Washington at 5:23 a.m, would
be eliminated,
605 Hopkins - 5t Louis Pk, . 5th Ave, - Walker 51. . Wood dale Blvd, - Excelsior Blvd,
Weekday & Saturday - Service would be eliminated,
Alternate service is available on Route 17 and Hopkins Hop-a-Ride,
612 Minnetonka - Co, Rd, 101 . Excelsior Blvd, - Main 51. - Hopkins
Weekday & Saturday - Service would be eliminated,
Alternate service is available on Hopkins Hop-a-Ride and Minnetonka Dial-a-Ride.
614 Minnetonka - Wayzata Blvd, - Co, Rd, 73 . 12th Ave, - Hopkins
Weekday & Saturday - Service would be eliminated.
Alternate service is available on Hopkins Hop-a-Ride and Minnetonka Dial-a-Ride.
661 Eden Prairie - Shady Oak Rd, - Hwy, 62 - Opus II . 11th Ave, - Hopkins
Weekday - Route would be eliminated.
Alternate service is available on route 12 and 665.
664 Minnetonka - Excelsior Blvd, - Main SI. . Hopkins. 5t, Louis Pk, - DT Mpls,
Weekday - Service east of Hopkins would be combined with Route 665, offering three
morning and three afternoon trips, Service west of Hopkins would be combined with
Route 670, offering four morning trips and four afternoon trips,
665 Opus II -11th Ave, - Hopkins - DT Mpls,
Weekday - Combine with Route 664 to travel on Excelsior Bivd, Hwy. 100 and 1-394,
offering three morning trips and three afternoon trips.
Page 1 of!
3/3012005
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Note: Route 664 & 665 would be
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Steve Simon
State Representative
District 44A
Sl. Louis Park and Hopkins
Minnesota
House of
Representatives
April 18, 2005
COMMITTEES: CIVIL LAW AND ELECTIONS
TRANSPORTATION
Arlene McCarthy
Metro Transit
230 E 5th St
St. Paul, MN 55101
Dear Ms. McCarthy:
The purpose ofthis letter is to advise you about one aspect of the proposed cuts to Metro
Transit bus routes,
First, a disclaimer. As I said during my public comments at the meeting last week at the
Hopkins Center for the Arts, I understand the difficult situation that Metro Transit faces
(along with the Met Council as a whole), Your authority is constrained by budgetary
reality, 1 will continue to urge people to contact and lobby the governor so that we can
change that "reality," In the meantime, 1 understand that your job is essentially to
perform "triage" on the transit system,
1 respectfully request that you reconsider the current proposal to eliminate bus route 612,
As you may know, route 612 provides a service connection between Hopkins and
Minnetonka, The route provides an important link for commuters who seek access to
downtown Minneapolis (and elsewhere) from the western suburbs, You may also know
that the route services up to eight subsidized housing buildings, The residents of those
buildings depend in part on route 612 as their transit lifeline, Diminished service on
route 612 means a diminished quality oflife for them and for many others, The only
present alternative for riders, which is to arrange trips on Hopkins Hop-a-Ride and
Minnetonka Dial-a-Ride, is plainly insufficient. Accordingly, I ask that you, Metro
Transit, and the Metropolitan Council let route 612 live, An entire community would be
grateful to you, As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns,
SIDC7fb:- ~ ~
Steve Simon .
CC: Peter Bell, Met Council
Richard Getschow, City of Hopkins
3000 Raleigh Ave. S. #407, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416
State Office BuildinQ, 100 Rev Dr Martin Luther Kino Jr Blvd, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155-1298
FAX: (651) 296-5517 TTY: (651) 296-9896 Email: rep.steve.simon@house,mn
(952) 920-1611
(651) 296-9889
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CITY OF HOPKINS
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN
RESOLUTION 2005-041
RESOLUTION OPPOSING REDUCTION IN TRANSIT SERVICE
IN HOPKINS AND SUPPORTING A SEPARATE FUNDING SOURCE
FROM PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THE REGION
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council is proposing to eliminate or reduce service to bus
routes in Hopkins and elsewhere in the region together with fare increases to address a $60 million
budget deficit over the next two-year funding cycle;
WHEREAS, public transit is a critical means of mobility for Hopkins residents who either
cannot or choose not to drive;
WHEREAS, public transit is a significant factor for many businesses and is essential for
attracting employees;
WHEREAS, the proposed service reduction eliminates service on five routes that serve
Hopkins (Routes 12,614,661,665, and 668);
WHEREAS, residents and employees of Hopkins businesses depend on these routes for
daily transportation to and from work;
WHEREAS, the proposed service cuts pose an additional and significant hardship on
employees and employers who can no longer depend on public transportation;
WHEREAS, businesses and riders together benefit from a well-functioning public transit
system;
WHEREAS, many who depend on public transit but have vehicles available to them will
now need to drive to work;
WHEREAS, cutting transit service will force more vehicle trips onto already congested
streets and highways;
WHEREAS, transit-oriented developments have been promoted as one means of
accommodating the region's growth; and,
WHEREAS, transit stability is essential for cities to risk investing in transit-oriented
developments,
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE KNOWN that the City Council of the City of Hopkins
opposes any reduction in transit service and supports a separate funding source that will stabilize
public transit in the region,
Adopted this
of April 2005
Eugene J, Maxwell, Mayor
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk