Going To Minneapolis In A Hurry?
Area Express Commuter bus Service To begin Soon
STILLWATER - Forest Lake and Hugo residents will soon be off ered expanded transit options for the morning and evening commute to and from Minneapolis.
According to Washington County offi cials, federal funds provided to the Metropolitan Council will help commuters impacted by the I-35W bridge collapse make use of transit as an alternative to get to work.
"Forest Lake is outside the Met Council's taxing district, so there is no [transit] service currently out of Forest Lake," said Public Works Deputy Director Wayne Sandberg.
But that should change soon.
Sandberg said that Metro Transit is making funding available to offer four trips each morning from Forest Lake to Minneapolis and four trips each aft ernoon returning to Forest Lake from Minneapolis.
Each coach bus would leave from the new Forest Lake Transit Center, which will soon be open next to the new Washington County Headwaters Service Center - Forest Lake and the Hardwood Creek Library.
Fare each way is estimated to be $3.50, county Transportation Planner Mike Rogers told the Washington County Board of Commissioners last week.
The service will also serve to test ridership for the Rush Line Corridor commuter transit line, which has been in the works for years.
If approved, the service could start as early as January 2008 and would continue during construction of the new I-35W bridge, which is set for completion in December 2008. Options for 2009 bus service are also being considered.
The county board approved a resolution on Nov. 20 requesting that the Met Council provide the service, clearing the way for Metro Transit to begin requesting proposals.