What Splitting From MVTA Means For Dakota County

The Dakota County Board voted 4-3 on Tuesday to cut ties with Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and dissolve the two organizations’ joint powers agreement, according to a report in The Star Tribune.

This means that a Dakota County Commissioner will no longer sit on the MVTA board, and the Dakota County Board will no longer have direct input on MVTA’s decisions.

MVTA spokesman Richard Crawford told the Star Tribune that riders will not see any changes, nor will there be changes in transit fares.

MVTA previously considered suing the Metropolitan Council for allowing Metro Transit to take over the “red line” route in December. The MVTA had operated that line since 2013.

According to Star Tribune, the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce, as well as well-known Apple Valley employer, Uponor all sent letters to the Dakota County Board to urge them to remain a member of the MVTA, fearing that withdrawing would harm future collaboration and transit initiatives.

Read the full story at the Star Tribune.