Transit Cuts Will Hurt Elderly And Disabled: Advocates

On Monday, Metropolitan Council Chair Adam Duininck, transit advocates, business groups, and local officials urged the House leadership to withdraw the House Transportation Omnibus Bill (HF 861).

The bill proposes to cut funding for Metro Transit, the largest transit provider in the Twin Cities.

Officials said bus, light rail, and Metro Mobility services for the elderly and disabled in the Twin Cities will suffer significant service cutbacks and fare increases under legislation introduced by leaders in the Minnesota Legislature.

The cuts will also fall on those who are transit-dependent, as well as those who regularly use the Metro Mobility service for people with disabilities, officials noted.

“The disability community was not consulted about this bill,” said Kjensmo Walker, who chairs the Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee.

“For many people with disabilities, transit is a lifeline, it’s how they get to work, school, doctor appointments and connect with the community. Whether it’s a service like Metro Mobility, or regular route bus service, transit is vital to our community.”

By the numbers

Currently, 20,000 Minnesotans with disabilities use Metro Mobility. As the region’s population ages, ridership on Metro Mobility has grown by five to eight percent a year.

Federal and state law require that the service provide rides to eligible individuals, regardless of growth in demand or cost.

Metro Mobility’s service area and hours of operation are minimally defined by law, although Metro Mobility currently provides more services than the legal minimum, according to a news release.

“If Republicans in the legislature short-change transit, our only alternative will be to shrink the Metro Transit service area and reduce the number of hours the system operates at the same time we dramatically increase fares. The people who rely on transit to get to work, school and personal activities will pay the biggest price as we reduce service hours, routes and destinations,” said Duininck

“To make up a deficit of that size, we will be forced to cut service by 40 percent. The service cut will be bigger if we don’t pass a fare increase this year,” continued Duininck.

Transit advocates and business leaders also said the cuts will have a ruinous impact on the region’s competitive advantage and quality of life. Ridership surveys by Metro Transit find that 80 percent of rides taken on the transit system are by people commuting to work or school.

"We have been urging legislators to enhance our transit system because it brings people to work and attracts talent to our region. This is a step in the wrong direction," said Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jonathan Weinhagen.

“This is going to harm hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses who rely on transit to get their employees to work on time and to bring customers to their businesses. Forty percent of the workers in downtown Minneapolis get to work on transit. Cut back on buses and employers will be forced to move out of our city just to ensure employees can find a place to park.”

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