96-287���ItiC��'p -�0-4�
RESOLUTION
C{TY OF SAf�{T P,AU�,,MINNESOTA
Presented
Referred To
Council File # ���
Green Sheet # 3 �. � � 3
Committee Date
RESOLUTIONREQUESTING THEMETROPOLITAN COUNCIL
RECONSIDER PLANNED REDUCTIONS IN SAINT PAUL B US SERVICE
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WTdEREAS, the Metropolitan Council is curremly considering transit service cuts or complete route
eliminations for the City of Saint Paul because of significant cuts in state and federal funding;
WHEREAS, these Metropolitan Council Transit Operations (MCTO) cuts include Saint Paul Routes 10,
1 l, 17, 22, 50, 94S and 95E; and
WIIEREAS, any cut in limited transit services available to City of Saint Paul residents runs counter to the
City's goals £or its own development as expressed in the City's Comprehensive Plan, as well as ruuning
counter to our regional goals which are articulated in the Regional Blueprint; and
WHEREAS, adequate bus service is essential for our City's lazge number of transit-dependent citizens,
especially those who have no other means of transportation and those who aze elderly, handicapped and
WIIEREAS, adequate bus service is essential for our City's businesses and industries—both to be
accessible to customers and employees; and
12 WHEREAS; significant savings may be accrued by the Metropolitan Council by reviewing current
13 expenditures for their appropriateness and connection to the MCTO mission and such savings should be
14 identified prior to service reductions and fare increases; and
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WHEREAS, the level of subsidies far Saint Paul bus service aze significantly below those of many
suburban azeas where subsidies per ride may be as high as $10-$12; and
WHEREAS, the proposed elimination of Saint Paul Route 22 which serves downtown Saint Paul, the
Rainsey Hospital, Redeemer Azms Hi-Rise, Ravoux Hi-Rise, 554 Central Hi-Rise, and 1247 Saint
Anthony would profoundly affect the many elderly and disabled riders it was designed to serve in off-peak
hours;
WHEREAS, Saint Paul Route 22 currently operates with a subsidy of $5.47 per rider, but the replacement
service for many of its riders—Metro Mobility—operates with a subsidy of $16.00 per rider, which is three
times higher; and
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24 WHEREAS, the proposed eliminarion of Saint Paul Route 17 which serves Dale Street, County Road B2
25 and Rosedale would strand many City residents who have access to oniy this route in their neighborhoods
26 and use it to commute to work; and
27 Wf�REAS, the reduced frequency of service for Saint Paul Route 95E which serves downtown Saint
28 Paul, Energy Pazk, the University of Minnesota and downtown Minueapolis will profoundly affect the
29 City's growing businesses and industriai pazks by reducing their access to potential employees, including
30 potenrial employees who aze core area residents who need access to these living wage jobs; now therefore
31 be it
32 RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council urges the Metropolitan Council reconsider its proposed
33 service cuts in the City of Saint Paul , '
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Requested by Department oE
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Form Approved by City Attorney
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Approved by Mayor for Submission to Council
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Adoprion Ce 'fied by Council Secretary
By: �.�J�C
Approved by May r te:
BY� _ �/����
Adopted by Council Date: ��� 5, n��( �,
qb-�R�
DEPC�`T �c��N�,� � 3/?A195 �REEN SHEE �° 32723
INRIAVDATE INRIAWATE
CANTACf PERSON 8 PHONE � DEPApTMENT DIRE O CRV CAUNCIL
Mazcia Mcermond, 266-8570 �cx O ClTY ATTOANEV � Cf7Y CLERK
MUST BE ON COUNCIL A6ENDA BY (DATE) NUYBER WP O BUOGET DIPECTOR � FlN. & MGT. SFAVICES OIfl.
Mazch 20, 1995 ��Ep
Q MAYOR (OR ASSISTAt3I) O
TOTAL # OF SIGNATUHE P14GES (CLIP ALL LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATUR�
ACf10N qEQUE5TEp;
Approval of resolution requesting the Metropolitan CouncIl to reconsider planned reductions in Saint Paul bus service.
RECOMMENDAiIONS: Apprwe !q1 m Rejea (R� pERSONAL SERVICE CONTAACTS MUST ANSW ER TNE FOLLOWING �UE5TIONS:
_ PLANNING COMMISSION _ CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION 1. Has this persoNFirm eve� xrorketl under a coMract for this departmen[?
_ CIB COMMR7EE _ YES NO
— �� F 2. Has this person/Brm ever been a ciry emptoyee?
— VES NO
_ DIS7RICT COURT , 3. Does Nis perso�rm possess a Skill not normally possessetl by any current city employee?
SUPPORTS WHICH COUNGIL O&IECfIVE7 YES NO
Explain all yes answen on seperate sheet antl attach to green aheet
INRIATING PROBLEM, ISSUE, OPPORTUNI7Y (WhO. Wha1. WhBn, Where, Why):
The Metropolitan Council plans to elitninate service on Saint Paul bus routes 17, 22, 50 and 94S, as well as reduce service on Saint
Paul bus routes 10, 11, and 95 E.
ADVANTAGESIFAPPROVED:
The City Council will voice its concerns to the Metropolitan Council about the impact these eliminations and reductions will have
on Saint Paul residents who may be rtansit-dependent, elderly or handicapped, and businesses who rely on buses for transportauon
of customers and employees.
DISADVANTAGES IPAPPROVE�.
None.
DISADVANTAGES IF NOTAPPROVED:
The Ciry Council will not voiced its concems to the Metropolitan Council about the impact these eliminaflons and reductions wIll
have on Saint Paul residents and businesses.
TOTAL AMOUtiT OF SRANSACTION $ COST(AEYENUE BllDGETED (CIRCLE ONE) VES NO
FUNDIWG SOURCE ACTIVITV NUMBER
FINANCIAL INPORMATION: (EXPLAIN)
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MCTO
Cutbacks in June 1996
Saint Paul
Route
Service Cut
e
Current Subsidy
10
Saturday and Weekday Nights
west of Downtown
St. Clair - Cretin to W 7th St.
Cretin - St. Clair to Ford Pkwy
Combine with Route 15
east of Downtown
Forest - ivy to Case cut
waik to Arcade (senior center)
11
Sunday and Weekday Nights
Sat $3.55 - Weekday nights ?
Weekdays $2.56
\
Sun $3.98 - Weekday nights?
Larpenteur - Westminster to Prosperity H,M
Payne - Larpenteur to Maryland A,H,M
Westminster - Larpenteur to Arlington C,D,G
Arlington - Westminsterto Edgerton C,D,G
Edgerton - Arlington to Maryland C,D,G
Maryland - Arkwright - Payne
Arkwright - Maryland to Case
Mississippi - Case to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania - L'Orient to MississipQi
L'Orient - Pennsylvania to University
to Jackson to 10th to Cedar to Kellogg
Robert - Keilogg to Concord
Concord - Robert to South Gity Limits
17
Af1 Service
Dafe - Larpenteur to Grand
(Rosedale to Grand )
No other north south service
until Rice, Como?, or Sneliing
Sun $3.75 - Sat $3.08 -
Weekdays $3.55
22 All Service Weekday $5.47
Weekday service to Midway Center, 1247 St. Anihony, Centeral Medical,
Redeemer Arms,Central Hi-Rise, Ravoux Hi-Rise and Downtown.
This route was important to Day#ons.
Route
50
.
Service Cut
A(t Service
Current Subsidy
Weekdays $6.69
Express Service between Downtown, Malt of America & Southdafe
Allows transfers to: � .<
Mpis routes 4,5,6,7,15,18,19,28,35J-K, 47, 80, 88, 89.
Weekdays $5.06
Express Service between Stillwater, l.ake Elmo, Oakdate & Downtown '�
Reroute route 12 to help a little but not express service. '�
95E Reduce Frequency Weekdays $3.50 _
Connects ihe two Downtowns via U of M Busway and Energy Park Dr.
94S All Service
--- - --.�..—.r„- --- - -- -- — - --- ----- - - — - - - -- --
.�. ,.. _ . -: . _ . : ... : _. - - -- . ' � -. . . . . - = . _ ..
It takes three buses to provide Route 22 service with 30 minute frequency. Perhaps Route 2Z
service frequency needs to be reduced so that it can be provided with one or two buses, and the
subsidy can be reduced to less than $3 per ride and well within the subsidy threshold. Route 22
must absolutely not be eliminated.
Route 17: Dale Street, Co. Rd. B2, Rosedale �'
Sometimes rather than to cut service, it makes more sense to improve service to increase ridership
and thus reduce the amount of subsidy per passenger. Route 17 is such a case. We know that bus
routes perform best when there aze major transit destinations at each end. The performance of
Route 17 improved, for example, when it was extended more than three miles west to Rosedale in
1989. At its south end, Route 17 stops about one mile from dov.�ntown St. Paul, tantalizingly close �
but not close enough to attract downtown-bound riders. Route 17 goes north into Roseville through
neighborhoods that are home to many downtown workers and have little or no alternazive downtown
bus service. It is one mile east and one to two miles west to the nearest north-south service
pazalleling Route 17. It appears that extending Route 17 a short distance to downtown St. Paul
would substantially increase Route 17 ridership and reduce the amount of subsidy per passenger to
well within target levels.
Route 17, with a weekday subsidy of �3.55 per ride and a Saturday subsidy of $3.08 per ride,
currentiy performs better than several nearby routes that aze not proposed to be cut. Route 103,
which pazallels Route 17 going east from Rosedale, has a weekday subsidy of �4.67 per ride and a
Saturday subsidy of $4.29 per ride. Route 105, which goes southwest from Rosedale, has a
weekday subsidy of �4.43 per ride and a Saturday subsidy of $6.67 per ride. Route 100, which
goes north from Rosedale, has a weekday subsidy of $5.97 per ride and a Saturday subsidy of
$6.81 per ride. If cuts to bus service are needed, there aze many other routes that should be looked
at before any cuts to Route 17 are considered. It may be that midday weekday service on Route
17 needs to be reduced from 3� minute to hourly frequency to bring it within the subsidy
threshold, but Route 17 service should certainly not be eliminated.
Route 9�E: Downtown St. Paul, Energy Park, Univ. of Minuesota, Downtown DZiuneapolis
Route 95E provides service that is essential for growing businesses in growing industrial puks in
the core of our city to recruit employees, and for core area residents to have access to living wage
jobs. Route 95E is performing reasonably well now. As St. Paul industrial parks fill up and
businesses grow, and as a very large new industrial park is developed in Minneapolis alon� Route
95, it will perform even better. If there is any change to Route 95 it should be to expand the
service. Route 95 should not be cut.
Good transit service is essential for Saint Paul and this region. We are facing some tough choices
in raising fares and cutting service in the face of state and federal funding cuts. We must work
together to minimize nega[ive impact. We must also work together to reverse these cuts and build a
stronger transit system. This region can not afford to do otherwise. _
Sinc ely,
No olema -'°'
VSayor
cc: City Council President Thune Metro Councilmember Wellington
City Councilmembers Me[ro Councilmember Wolfson
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CIT'Y OF SAINT PAUL
Norm Coleman, Mayor
Mazch 15, 1996
C�rt Johnson, Chair
Metropolitan Council
230 East Fifrh Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101-1634
Dear Mr. Johnson:
390 City Ha!!
15 West Kel(ogg Boulevard
Saim Paul, A1N 55102
I am writing to express concem about proposed service cuts and service elimination on several bus
routes that serve Saint Paut. I recognize the difficulty in reducing operating costs in response to
substantial cuts in state and federal funding. But I believe we can not afford to eliminate bus
service rhat is essential for the mobiliry of our large number of transit-Qependent citizens, essenrial
for the elderly and handicapped, essential for many businesses to find employees, and essenrial for
many people to find employment.
Transit access to employment and services for those in need is basic to the economic future of the
region. It is essenual for maintaining the economic vitaliry of Downtown Saint Paul, our
neighborhood commercial azeas, and work places tluoughoui the city.
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Some of the proposed core area reducuons in off-peak service wouid be especially hard on transit-
dependent people. Those who depend on transit aze also most likely to have uavel needs that occur
during off-peak times -- elderly shoppers and those seeking medical services, service workers in the
food and retail indusrries, job seekers, social service cliems, and youth. Some of the proposed off-
peak service cuts will result in these riders, who do not have good alternadves, becoming isolated
and greatly inconvenienced.
Route 22: Downtown St. Paul, Ramsey Hospital, Redeemer Arms Hi-Rise, Ravoux Hi-Rise,
554 Central Hi-Rise, 1247 St. Anthony I3i-Rise
I am particulazly concemed about the proposed elimination of Route 22 service. No other route is
designed so specifically to serve the needs of large concentrations of elderly and disabled riders,
many who are unable to walk to other bus routes. Route 22 is also unique in that it is entirely off-
peak service. Buses used between 9:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M, for Route 22 would otherwise be idle,
and drivers would have less efficient shifrs. The marginal cost to use these buses to provide needed
Route 22 service, rather than to have them sitting idle much of the day, is relatively small.
Tekphone: 612-166-8510
Facsimile: 6l2-228-85/3
Metro Mobiliry would be the altemative for many Route 22 riders if Route 22 is eliminated. With
operating expenses over $16.00 per ride, Metro Mobiliry is an extremely expensive way to provide
transit service to handicapped people. It would seem kind of backwazds to eliminate Route 22 and
then provide the service with Metro Mobility.
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` CITY OF SAINT PAIIL
riii�
""�''"� � OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JERRY BLAKEY
Councilmember
MEMORANDUM
TO: Council President Dave Thune
Councilmember Dan Bostrom
Councilmember Dino Guerin
Councilmember Mike Harris
Councilmember Bobbi Megard
Councilmember Janice Rettman
FROM: Councilmember Jerry Blakey /�
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RE: MCTO PROPOSED REDUCTIONS lN SAINT PAUL
DATE: March 20, 1996
Attached is a resolution requesting that the Metropolitan Council reconsider planned
reductions in Saint Paul bus service and supporting materiai.
The public comment period ends this Friday, March 22, 1996, so I am requesting that
the Council consider this resolution under suspension today. If any Counciimembers
are interested in signing the original, please see me prior to the Council meeting.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Attachments
CITY HALL THIRD FLOOR SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102 612/266-3610
6�65
PrioteA on Aecydetl Pnper