Fares could increase for some

Metro Transit users don’t need to worry about a potential fare increase compliments of the Legislature. However, some riders on suburban opt-outs may need to pay a little more.

The potential change is part of an omnibus transportation policy bill, passed as amended March 14 by the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee and sent to the House Government Operations and Elections Committee.

The original HF2685 called for a 25-cent fare increase for some transit service to help Metro Transit pay its operating costs. Supporters said, in part, that without an increase the Metropolitan Council, which operates Metro Transit, would likely request more state funding at the expense of the opt-outs, instead of getting a greater share of its operating costs from users.

Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee), the bill’s sponsor, believes the initial proposal should help spur further discussions about transit funding inequities. Opponents, such as Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls), said it would violate the spirit of an agreement between legislative leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton to help resolve last year’s state government shutdown. Rep. Terry Morrow (DFL-St. Peter) added that it could start the Legislature down “a slippery slope” of telling transit providers what to charge.

Beard hopes the final plan would help provide more funding flexibility for the opt-outs.

As amended, the bill would allow opt-outs to “establish a pilot program that adds a distance-based surcharge to standard transit fares.” Such a surcharge could only be implemented on routes whose total length exceeds 15 miles. The pilot program would expire on Jan. 1, 2016. Metro Transit could also impose an increase on its express bus service.

“It’s a very big step,” Beard added. “I’m sure the wheels won’t fall off if we try this.”

“It’s been done in other cities, so let’s see what happens here,” Hornstein said.

Other provisions in the omnibus bill include:

• establishing a temporary program whereby the Department of Transportation can enter into contracts with a construction manager or general contractor for parts of construction project administration;

• directing MnDOT and the Department of Employment and Economic Development to conduct a freight rail economic development study;

• amending the information that goes on a vehicle title for a restored pioneer vehicle; and

• broadening a “first haul” exception to vehicles that exceed weight limits by no more than 10 percent and are performing the first transport of unprocessed farm products or unrefined forest products to a location within 100 miles.

A companion, SF2321, sponsored by Sen. Joe Gimse (R-Willmar), awaits action by the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee.