FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Peter McLaughlin, Counties Transit Improvement Board Chair: 612-348-7884

Counties Transit Improvement Board receives $1.2 million operating grant refund from Metropolitan Council

Minneapolis, Minn. – High ridership on the Hiawatha Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Northstar Commuter Rail lines resulted in a $1.2 million operating grant refund to the Counties Transit Improvement Board from the Metropolitan Council.

The Counties Transit Improvement Board funds 50 percent of the operating costs for the Hiawatha LRT and Northstar Commuter Rail lines. In 2008, the Counties Transit Improvement Board awarded an $11.3 million grant to the Metropolitan Council to pay for 2009 operating costs for the Hiawatha LRT line and Northstar Commuter Rail start-up operating costs. Because of high ridership on both rail lines, and other cost-saving measures taken by the Metropolitan Council, 2009 operating costs were lower than expected.

“The Counties Transit Improvement Board thanks the Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit for providing cost-effective, top-notch transit services to the region,” said Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, who chairs the Counties Transit Improvement Board.

The Hiawatha LRT line completed its fifth year of service in 2009, with average weekday ridership reaching 29,786, which is above the forecast for the year 2020; total 2009 ridership was 9.9 million rides. The Hiawatha LRT line was also extended to The Interchange in downtown Minneapolis, to connect with the Northstar Commuter Rail line, which began service on Nov. 16, 2009.

“The high ridership on the Hiawatha LRT and Northstar Commuter Rail lines proves how important it is to continue to have dedicated transit funding that will accelerate transit options for the region,” McLaughlin said.

The Counties Transit Improvement Board is taking regional transit to the next level in the metropolitan area. Since April 2008, five counties – Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington – have utilized a quarter-cent sales tax and $20 a motor vehicle sales tax, permitted by the Minnesota Legislature, to invest in and advance transit projects by awarding annual capital and operating grants. The Counties Transit Improvement Board works in collaboration with the Metropolitan Council and Carver and Scott counties.