Grants will increase transit service in Greater Minnesota by 100,000 hours over next two years
ST. PAUL, MN – Lt. Governor Tina Smith and Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle today announced $23.7 million in grants to help meet the growing need for transit services in Greater Minnesota. The grants were awarded to 23 transit providers in Greater Minnesota, and will help improve reliability, frequency and service for Minnesotans as they commute to work, school, and personal activities.
“Transit matters in every corner of Minnesota. Residents of Greater Minnesota took 12.2 million transit trips in 2015 alone. The need is only expected to grow in coming years,” said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. “These new grants will help provide more Minnesotans reliable transit access. Our Administration looks forward to working with the Legislature this year to make additional investments in transit, roads, and bridges.”
Minnesota currently has 44 transit systems serving all 80 Greater Minnesota counties. In 2015, residents of Greater Minnesota took 12.2 million transit rides – or more than one in ten of all transit trips in Minnesota that year. The demand for transit in Greater Minnesota has grown rapidly. Transit ridership in rural areas increased 12.6 percent between 2010 and 2014.
“Transit in Greater Minnesota is vitally important,” said Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle. “There are fewer options in our rural communities for Minnesotans who don’t drive. These bus services are a critical lifeline for many Minnesota workers, seniors, students and families across our state.”
The Minnesota Department of Transportation estimates that operating expenses for Greater Minnesota transit will exceed revenues by 2021. The deficit between revenues and expenses is expected to climb to $31 million by 2025. Additional resources will be needed starting in 2021 to achieve a long-term service plan that meets the demands of Greater Minnesota transit users.
Greater Minnesota Transit Grants
Grant recipients include urban services in populations greater than 50,000, small urban services in populations from 2,500 to 49,000 and in rural systems made up of county and multi-county systems, including tribal systems.
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Greater Minnesota Transit Grants
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Service Provider
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Communities
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Amount
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East Grand Forks
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Cities of East Grand Forks and Grand Forks, N.D.
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$731,200
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Mankato
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Cities of Mankato and North Mankato
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$3,185,800
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Moorhead
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Cities of Moorhead and Dilworth
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$1,395,800
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Rochester
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City of Rochester
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$2,720,000
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Duluth Transit Authority
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Duluth, Hermantown and Proctor MN with service to Superior, WI.
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$3,995,800
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St. Cloud Metro Transit
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Cities of St. Cloud, Waite Park and Sauk Rapids
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$4,016,000
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Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency
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Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine and St. Louis Counties
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$2,369,800
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Becker County Transit
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Becker County
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$197,900
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Brown County Human Services
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Brown County
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$52,600
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Cedar Valley Services
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Freeborn, Mower, Steele and Waseca Counties
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$471,800
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Central Community Transit
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Kandiyohi, Meeker and Renville Counties
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$298,600
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Heartland Express
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Chisago and Isanti Counties
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$1,699,900
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Kanabec County
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Kanabec and Mille Lacs Counties
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$123,400
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Prairie Five
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Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Swift, Yellow Medicine Counties
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$209,000
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Productive Alternatives
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Clay, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties
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$249,500
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Three Rivers Community Action
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Goodhue, Rice, Wabasha Counties
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$620,600
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Tri-County Action Program
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Benton, Morrison, Sherburne and Stearns Counties
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$422,500
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Tri-Valley Opportunity Council
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Clearwater, Kittson, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Red Lake Counties
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$108,800
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Wadena County
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Wadena County
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$314,000
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United Community Action Partnership
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Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Redwood and Rock Counties
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$289,200
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City of Hibbing
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City of Hibbing
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$47,300
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Minnesota River Valley Transit
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Cities of St. Peter and Le Sueur
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$59,000
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City of Winona
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City of Winona
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$324,500
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Total Investment
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$23,703,500
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Governor Dayton’s 2017 Transportation Funding Proposal
As part of his Opportunity Agenda for a Better Minnesota, Governor Dayton has proposed a transportation solution that would repair or replace 1,700 miles of roads and 235 bridges statewide. The Governor’s plan also would provide local leaders the resources and flexibility to repair and replace local roads and bridges in their communities by directing over 40 percent of the new revenues to cities, counties, and townships.
Greater Minnesota seniors, commuters, and students are expected to take an additional 4.3 million transit trips every year by 2040. Governor Dayton’s proposal would add 500,000 additional hours of service annually in Greater Minnesota – meeting 90 percent of the need. In the Twin Cities, the Governor’s proposal would support the development of 20 new transitways. Learn more about Governor Dayton’s
transportation solution here.
[
MAP] Lt. Governor Smith and Transportation Commissioner Zelle announced 23 Greater Minnesota transit grants today. Click the link to see which communities will benefit. [
LINK]
[
FACTSHEET]: Learn more about Governor Dayton’s proposed statewide transportation solution. [
LINK]
