New self service Bike Fixtation now located at Uptown Transit Station

Resources:

• Vending machine selling inner tubes, patch kits, lights, snacks, drinks, sunscreen/other seasonal items.
• Electric tire pump with gauge.
• Work stand with tools.

Hours: 6 AM to midnight, 365 days a year.

Location: Inside Uptown Transit Station. The kiosk is in the transit shelter on the east side of Hennepin Avenue, directly above the Midtown Greenway trail.

Access: Exit the Greenway at Humboldt Avenue, then head towards Hennepin Avenue, cross the street, and enter the transit shelter to the left. In fall 2011, a new ramp from the Greenway will connect to Girard Avenue, the Mozaic development, and Uptown Transit Station.

MORE INFORMATION

Two Public Meetings – July 6 & 7 – provide an initial overview of potential impacts to reductions in transit funding!

NEWS FROM: MET COUNCIL

The Metropolitan Council is planning a series of public hearings to collect public input regarding potential transit service reductions and fare increases, which may be necessary given anticipated shortfalls in the regional transit operations budget.

Transit services are funded in part with state appropriations. Though transit services – including Metro Transit bus and rail, Metro Mobility, and Transit Link – will continue for a period of time in the event of a government shutdown, the long-term outlook for the transit budget is less certain. In the absence of a state budget, the Council is beginning the lengthy process of holding hearings to implement service adjustments and/or a fare increase, based on the scenario of a $110 million reduction previously proposed by the Legislature in the state’s general fund commitment to transit.

“We are preparing and planning for a significant impact on transit service,” says Council Chair Susan Haigh. “It’s important that we begin informing transit users and the general public about this serious issue and accept input from the public on potential service reductions and fare increases.”

Public meetings July 6 and 7

Two public meetings are set for July 6 and 7 to provide an initial overview of potential impacts, allow attendees to ask questions, and accept public comment. Please note that specific information about routes affected and specific fare increases will not be available at these meetings, though preliminary information will be available.

• Wednesday, July 6 – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  Metropolitan Council Offices – Chambers
  390 North Robert Street, St. Paul
  Served by many transit routes
• Thursday, July 7 – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room
  300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
  Served by many transit routes

Watch Presentation

Public hearings August 8 – 18

In addition, seven formal public hearings have been scheduled throughout the metropolitan area, beginning Aug. 8. These meetings will provide specific details about the service adjustments planned and any fare increase proposed:

Seven public hearings have been scheduled throughout the metropolitan area, beginning Aug. 8:

• Monday, Aug. 8 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  Bloomington Civic Plaza, Council Chambers
  1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington
  Served by Routes 535, 539
• Tuesday, Aug. 9 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  Hopkins Center for the Arts, Community Room
  111 Main Street, Hopkins
  Served by Route 12, 615, 664
• Wednesday, Aug. 10 – 12 noon to 1 p.m.
  Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room
  300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
  Served by many transit routes
• Thursday, Aug. 11, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  Maplewood Library, Large Meeting Room
  3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood
  Served by Routes 64, 80, 219, 223
• Monday, Aug. 15 – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  Brookdale Library, Large Meeting Room
  6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center
  Served by Route 722
• Tuesday, Aug. 16 – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  Metro Transit Offices – Chambers
  560 – 6th Avenue North, Minneapolis
  Served by routes 5, 19, 22 & 55 (Hiawatha LRT)
• Thursday, Aug. 18 – 12 noon to 1 p.m.
  Metropolitan Council Offices – Chambers
  390 North Robert Street, St. Paul
  Served by many transit routes

The specific proposals for fare and service adjustments will be available on the Council’s website (www.metrocouncil.org) no later than July 29.

A public comment period will open July 5 and comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Aug. 29 by the following methods:

• Written comments: Metropolitan Council Data Center
  390 N. Robert St., St. Paul, 55101
• Fax comments to: Data Center at 651-602-1464
• Send TTY comments to: Data Center at 651-291-0904
• Email: data.center@metc.state.mn.us
• Record comments on Council’s Public Comment Line at 651-602-1500

In the event that budget negotiations produce a different fiscal outlook for the transit budget, the Council Chair has the authority to reschedule the public hearings to allow time to review the service and fare proposals. If this happens, the proposals will be available at least 10 days before the first rescheduled public hearing.  The public comment period will also be extended to end 10 days after the last public hearing.

The Council may also conduct public meetings ahead of the public hearings in August to provide general information about the current budget situation and the impacts that a significant reduction will have on regional transit services and fares.

A Message from Metropolitan Council Chair Susan Haigh

The Metropolitan Council, like state agencies, has been working with the Dayton administration on contingency planning in the unfortunate event of a state government shutdown.

The Council, however, is not a state agency, but rather a political subdivision of the state with many of its own administrative operations. As such, the Council plans to continue to operate and provide services, barring a decision by the court that says otherwise.

Many Council services do not rely on state funding and those services continue; wastewater collection and treatment, for example.

Transit services and activities, however, are funded in part with state appropriations. The Council has determined we are able to continue to operate transit services, including Metro Transit bus and rail, Metro Mobility, Transit Link and other contract services, at least for a period of time. We also plan to continue construction activities on Central Corridor. Again– unless the court determines otherwise.

To date, we’ve been able to convey very little information about the impacts of a possible shutdown. That’s primarily because we don’t ourselves know the full implications of a possible shutdown of this magnitude. It is unprecedented and complex.

We very much hope there will be a budget resolution soon.

However, in the absence of a state budget, we are also beginning the required and lengthy process of holding hearings and implementing fare and service adjustments, based on the worst-case scenario of a $110-million reduction in the state’s general fund commitment to transit, described in the House/Senate Transportation bill.

Since we have to base our fare and service adjustment recommendation on such a significant reduction, we are preparing and planning for a substantial impact on transit service.

In closing, our thoughts are with all the people and organizations that rely on state funding and the important services that government provides. This is a time of uncertainty and possible hardship.

We continue to be hopeful that a budget solution will be reached soon. We know it’s an administration priority to continue those services that make our region and our state the great place it is.

Susan Haigh

http://www.metrocouncil.org/about/chair.htm

Public meeting showcases Downtown paving projects

NEWS FROM CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS

The City of Minneapolis will be resurfacing several Downtown streets this summer, making our roadways more drivable for everyone who visits the heart of our city. Streets will get a mill and overlay treatment, a process that involves removing the top layer of asphalt and replacing it with a new, smooth surface. This work should extend the lives of these streets by a decade.

Public Works will host a public information meeting on these resurfacing projects Downtown:

Downtown street resurfacing public information meeting
Wednesday, June 22
2 – 4 p.m., with presentation at 2:30 p.m.
City of Lakes building, room 101
309 2^nd Ave. S

Among the streets being resurfaced are ones that served as detour routes following the collapse of the Interstate 35W Bridge over the Mississippi River. Federal funding will help the City restore these streets, which sustained extra wear and tear for 13 months while a replacement bridge was built. Additional resurfacing is part of a High-Volume Corridor Reconditioning project, which targets streets identified as among the busiest Downtown.

When you factor in the streets we’ve paved these past few seasons and the ones Hennepin County are taking care of, well over half of the streets in the downtown core will have driving surfaces that are three years old or less by the end of the season.

For more information on Downtown street repaving, go to: 
www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/public-works/cip/resurfacing2011-downtown.

Expand Your Twin City Bike Options With The Northstar Rail

Doug Shidell – Bikeverywhere.com

Looking to expand your bicycling range without getting in the car?

Try the Northstar Commuter Rail. The train can take you to the northern suburbs of Fridley, Coon Rapids and Anoka, or whisk you to the bedroom communities of Elk River and Big Lake. The riding opportunities are endless. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Fridley: Exit the train to the west parking lot and follow the bike path north along the tracks. It will lead you to the attractive Rice Creek Trail.

Coon Rapids: For the more experienced rider, the Coon Rapids station allows access to Coon Rapids Dam on the Mississippi River or the trails in Bunker Hills Regional Park.

Anoka: I refer to this as the “Deck Chair and Ice Cream” ride.  Pick up the Rum River Trail just across 4th Ave from the train station and ride north. The trail hugs the river all the way to Bunker Hills Rd. Cross the river on the bike path and drop down to River’s Bend Park for more trails and more time along the banks of the river. It’s only 12 miles round trip, which gives you plenty of time to buy some ice cream and hang out in a deck chair in downtown Anoka. If that’s too easy, add a few miles by following the trail south along the Rum River.

Elk River: The first station to have more farmland than housing near it. Bring your mountain bike for a loop around the Hill City Park trails. The trail head is about a mile from the station. Road riders can take the long route into downtown Elk River or range further into the farm fields and wooded areas surrounding town.

Big Lake Station: Take it easy with a loop around Big Lake or throw in some adventure by riding to Lake Maria State Park for an overnight stay at one of the walk-in campsites or camper cabins. Return the next day for the train ride back to town.

Station-to-Station: Try something different by getting off at one station and riding to another along the line. The ultimate trip is to take the train to the end of the line (Big Lake) and ride all the way back to Minneapolis. There are two good routes back to the city, one on the north side of the Mississippi River and one south of the River. Distance is about 55 miles.

Last fall Metro Transit asked me to research bike routes around the train stations. Those routes are on the Metro Transit website (www.metrotransit.org/Northstar). As long as I was out there, I did some extra research, beyond the station towns. That’s when I discovered the loop to Lake Maria State Park and the station-to-station routes, including the routes back to Minneapolis. The results, with full color maps and information about fares, first arrival and last departure times, and suggested loops, are available on my website www.bikeverywhere.com.

Next time you want to try riding somewhere different. Check out Northstar. This bicycle friendly train will open up a whole new area for exploration.

NOTE:
Bikeverywhere produces the most comprehensive Twin Cities Bike Map both for recreation and commuting. Order your copy at www.bikeverywhere.com

Please take a short survey regarding electric vehicles

We need your help in preparing for use of electric vehicles (EVs) in metro area. Models such as the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf are expected to be available to Minnesotans this fall.  Why consider driving an electric vehicle? EVs have zero emissions from the tailpipe, cost much less to operate, and can be charged by locally-generated wind or solar power.

Drivers of these or other EVs will need access to charging stations for repowering them.  By answering this one minute survey you can help determine  where the charging stations should be located.
http://www.snapsurveys.com/swh/surveylogin.asp?k=130626778663 Please complete the survey by July 28^th

In the battle against congestion, TMOs are on your side

By: Jeff Syme, Metropolitan Council

Transportation Management Organizations provide relief to commuters, employers

In the battle against congestion, Twin Cities employers and commuters have strong allies in a small group of nonprofits identified by their collective acronym, TMOs.

These small offices work with commuters and employers to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicles clogging up area highways during the morning and afternoon rush hour (which actually stretches to more than two hours on both ends).

The region’s four Transportation Management Organizations are better known to the public as:

• Commuter Connection (Downtown Minneapolis)
• Commuter Services (494 Corridor)
• Commute Solutions (Anoka County)
• Smart Trips (St. Paul)

TMOs create strategies and programs that give commuters viable, tangible alternatives to the daily white-knuckle ride behind the wheel. Collectively these strategies and programs are called Transportation Demand Management (TDM), a low-cost approach to reducing single-occupancy vehicle travel, and maximizing freeway and highway capacity.

The record shows that TDM strategies are working. For example, in 2009 (the latest year for which data are available) TDM programs implemented by the TMOs and Metro Transit helped reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled by an estimated 64 million miles in the seven-county region – that’s more than 4 million vehicle trips. That mileage correlates with approximately 13,000 tons of CO2 emissions not released into the atmosphere.

TMOs, Metro Transit provide customized solutions

TMOs and Metro Transit work together to provide customized solutions to employers and commuters in the geographic areas they serve, explained Bruce Howard, marketing director for Metro Transit. (Areas in the region not served by one of the four chartered TMOs are served by Metro Transit.)

“With congestion expected to grow worse over time, and now with gas prices on the rise, commuters are looking for new ways to get to work,” Howard said. “Likewise, employers want to help their employees get to work more easily and reliably, and to create alternative work schedules or teleworking opportunities.”

• Individualized employee services – Consumer education about pre-tax benefits, enrollment in appropriate commuter programs and customized travel plans.
• Employer services – Rider subsidy programs, commuter fairs, regional promotions, commuter surveys, and technical assistance with telework options.
• Websites that serve as portals to describe local programs and spread awareness.
• Advocacy for commuter programs – Working with municipal government and developers to coordinate local land-use plans and development concepts.

In addition to managing their own programs, TMOs also promote and market regional TDM programs and services provided by the Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit. Such services include the regional transit network, employer subsidy programs like Metropass, U-Pass and College Pass, car and vanpool services (Ride Share, Guaranteed Ride Home, Van-Go!), and e-work programs.

TMO programs cut into congestion

“TMOs have had a big impact in their service areas and have contributed to the region’s overall effort to reduce single-occupant-vehicle trips since they got started here nearly 25 years ago,” Howard said. “We all gain with fewer cars on the road. Less gas is consumed, less pollution is emitted, workers have smoother commutes and more time with their families, and goods move to their destinations more quickly.”

TMO results speak for themselves. For example, Commuter Connection in downtown Minneapolis reported that in 2009, they:

• Served 22,620 customers through their Commuter Connection store
• Registered 3,254 carpools
• Sold $732,000 in transit fares
• Secured 19 new Metropass contracts
• Helped 22 real estate developments fulfill their TDM commitments to the City of Minneapolis.

Combined, these efforts led to an estimated reduction of more than 19.7 million vehicle miles.

The TMOs also participate in a state-sponsored teleworking initiative, calledeWorkplace, which promotes and supports teleworking for metro area employers. As of January 2011, 40 employers were participating and 3,000 of their employees were teleworking at least one day a week. According to the report, these workers eliminated an estimated 125,000 commute trips each day on metro area roads.

The benefits of TDM strategies compound from year to year, as more commuters and employers get on board.

Jessica Treat, director of the St. Paul Smart Trips TMO, has witnessed that growth firsthand through Smart Trips’ work with organizations, neighborhoods and individuals in St. Paul.

“Our role is to get people’s attention, educate them about their options, change attitudes about commuting alternatives, and ultimately change behaviors,” Treat said. “When we do, we find that those individuals and organizations become enthusiastic advocates for the work we do.

“There’s a growing demand for resources and pertinent information about the wide range of commuting options out there, and Smart Trips is happy to fill that need,” she said.

Private-public partners govern TMOs

TMOs are typically governed by a board of directors that includes local government officials, business leaders and community stakeholders who set policies and priorities to serve their specific commuter needs. (Commute Solutions is tucked into Anoka County government.) The TMOs also support one another and coordinate efforts to leverage results.

The majority of TMO funding comes from a federal grant designated to reduce air pollution in metro areas that experience traffic congestion. In 2010, that funding totaled $2.75 million. Local partners are required to provide a 20% match.

Metro Transit Partners with Sweet-T’s Smoothie & Coffee Hut to Offer Coffee Service at 3 Regional Park and Rides

NEWS FROM METRO TRANSIT:

Start your morning off with some gourmet coffee or a fruit smoothie before you hop on!

Starting June 13, you can buy coffee, espresso drinks and fruit smoothies at select Park & Ride locations.

Sweet-T’s Smoothie & Coffee Hut will be selling specialty drinks at these locations between 5 and 9 a.m. on the days noted:

95th Avenue Park & Ride, Blaine
Mondays and Wednesdays

Foley Boulevard Park & Ride, Coon Rapids
Tuesdays and Thursdays

Elk River Station
Fridays

Note: Only beverages in covered containers are allowed on buses and trains.

Parking Ramps Install New Shower Facilities for Bicycle Commuters

MINNEAPOLIS- MPLS Parking and the ABC Ramps are pleased to announce new shower facilities for bicyclists in Ramp B. Centrally located off the Cedar Lake Trail, bicyclists can now pull into Ramp A or B, park their bike in a secured location and jump into the convenient, private shower facilities to freshen up before heading into work.

Ramps A and B, and the Courthouse Ramp provide a convenient location to store your bike and avoid riding on busy downtown streets. Rates and instructions for setting up a bike locker and shower contract can be found at abc-ramps.com and MPLSparking.com.

MPLS Parking provides a variety of accessible and convenient bike parking options and locations in their downtown parking facilities, located primarily on the fringe of downtown. Bicycle parking is located on the street level of parking ramps and lots so it is safe, convenient and provides easy access in/out access. Bicycle parking, with the exception of bike lockers and showers, are free to the public!

Free bicycle parking is located throughout downtown at 11^th and Harmon Ramp, 11^th and Marquette Ramp, Ramps A, B, and C, The Courthouse Ramp, Government Center Ramp, Jerry Haaf Memorial Ramp, Leamington Ramp, Riverfront Ramp and North Terminal Lot. More information can be found at MPLSparking.com.