Minnesota weighs replacing Northstar commuter rail with bus line
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State and local transit officials will explore replacing the beleaguered Northstar commuter rail with bus service, Met Council and the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Monday.
The big picture: Ridership on the line, which runs from the Target Field Station to Big Lake, plummeted post-pandemic and hasn't recovered.
- Average weekday rides dropped from about 2,300 in December 2019 to just 382 last December.
What they're saying: "As the world and consumer demand changes, we must be willing to be flexible and innovative to offer better service while saving dollars," Metro Transit and MnDOT said in a joint statement.
Between the lines: The announcement comes as state lawmakers weigh a proposal to discontinue service on the 16-year-old commuter rail line.
- The bill's chief author, House Transportation Chair Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville), said in a statement that the state should stop wasting millions "on a project that simply doesn't work to reduce congestion or move people."
What's next: The agencies expect to release more information on a timeline and potential cost savings in the coming months.