Thanks to Clover Montessori School for their support.
Metro Transit is piloting a free bus fare program including route 62 in West St. Paul.
- Fareboxes will be covered.
- You can enter from the front or the back of the bus.
- If you transfer to another route, you will need to pay for that fare.
Why: It’s an attempt to boost ridership, which fell during the pandemic. But it’s also part of a nationwide movement to make public transit free, much like other taxpayer subsidized services including libraries, parks, and highways.
Where: The free fare pilot program covers two routes—62 which connects West St. Paul and Shoreview, primarily along Rice Street, and route 32 which connects Minneapolis and Roseville along Lowry Avenue.
How it happened: The state legislature approved the pilot program, which began July 1 and will run through the end of 2024. Then Metro Transit will report back and the legislature will decide what’s next.
Economics
Metro Transit estimates the 18-month program will result in $930,000 in lost revenue. Across the whole system, user fares account for about 10% of Metro Transit’s total revenue.
The Star Tribune quoted feuding politicians on the topic:
- Pay for it from the general fund: “I’ve never heard anyone ask how we pay for a road,” said Rep. Sydney Jordan, DFL-Minneapolis.
- Shouldn’t be free: “Ridership is not free. There is a cost to the rest of the taxpayers,” Rep. John Petersburg, GOP-Waseca
Informational Meeting
Metro Transit is hosting an information meeting to connect with the community and talk about the free fare pilot program:
- When: Tuesday, August 22 from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
- Where: Amore Coffee
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West St. Paul Reader 