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Members of the Rush Line Corridor Task Force are eager to offer bus service to the Twin Cities from Chisago County. The task force is ready to go before the legislature in the upcoming session for funds to help make that happen, and if all goes according to plan, Task Force member Ben Montzka, Chisago County Commisisoner, says there shouldn't be a local cost-- at least at the outset of the bus routes.

Additional progress on offering mass transit for this area includes the announcement of a new express bus service out of Forest Lake, beginning Monday, January 7. The routes into Minneapolis load at the new Forest Lake Transit Center, south of town, next door to the Washington County Headwaters Service Center.

To facilitate start-up of what the Task Force hopes are eight coach bus trips into the Cities, from this area, the Task Force is requesting $700,475 in the upcoming legislature session. Montzka said having state resources applied to transit needs, rather than expecting local residents to foot the bill, "makes sense...this is a very important public good, I support transit services, and it's more progressive to use state resources."

Up until now, the work of the Rush Line Corridor Task Force (its meetings, reports, website, etc.) was administered by Ramsey County. Montzka wanted to commend Ramsey County for the staffing support and keeping the task force going. "I should give credit where credit is due," he added.

The Task Force came together in 1999, and usually meets monthly in White Bear Lake or St. Paul.

It has focused on first studying transit needs along the "rush line" and determining what services exist that could compliment transit, then finding funding. The corridor task force (see graphic) includes 24 elected members from Pine City and Hinckley to St. Paul/Little Canada.

With four coach bus trips offered each rush hour (a.m. and p.m.) the Task Force estimates the St. Paul route will have 340 to 400 daily riders. Minneapolis routes will get between 280 and 350. The coach service, according to Montzka, will begin at the Lent Township Park & Ride at the new freeway interchange at #17. There would be a stop at the newly built transit center south of Forest Lake where transfers could take place. A stop to be determined in the White Bear Lake/Vadnais Heights area would be included in the leg from Forest Lake to St. Paul.

The goal of the task force members, Montzka said, is to get funding available by mid-2008 and have enough for the bus system to operate through 2009. Permanent funding would be reviewed based on ridership revenues and other factors.

Commissioner Montzka said he is "assuming the legislature will support this." He thanked Rep. Jeremy Kalin for "doing a great job" presenting this plan at the capitol.

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