Laserfiche WebLink
NEW BUS ROUTE 363 <br />(RED ROCK CORRIDOR PHASE I IMPLEMENTATION) <br />Position: <br />The Washington County Regional Railroad Authority (WCRRA) supports funds for a two-year <br />demonstration of a new bus route (Route 363) that would provide all -day, bi-directional bus service <br />between Saint'Paul and Cottage Grove. <br />Issue: <br />The existing transit service in the Red Rock corridor is peak period express service designed for downtown <br />workers with 9 am — 5 pm work schedules. New Route 363 would provide all -day service every 30 minutes <br />in both directions between Saint Paul and Cottage Grove, expanding multimodal travel options in the <br />Highway 61 corridor. <br />All day local service will allow people whose travel needs are not met with peak -period, peak direction <br />express service to complete trips on transit. Examples include workers within the corridor during <br />traditional and non-traditional work shift times, reverse -commuters, and people making school, human <br />service, social, and recreational trips. Local stops within the corridor will also increase access for people <br />currently unable to use the park-and-ride based commuter -express service, including those with limited <br />access to an automobile. <br />A two-year demonstration of Route 363 is estimated to cost $5,600,000. <br />Support and Opposition: <br />Support comes from the Red Rock Corridor Commission, Metro Transit, local communities along the <br />corridor, East Metro Strong, and those who support buses over other public transit options. Opposition <br />may come from those opposed to expansion of transit in the region. <br />Previous Consideration: <br />Through the Red Rock Corridor Implementation Plan completed in 2016, county and city partners have <br />conducted a thorough investigation of transit needs in the corridor. The plan is a phased approach with a <br />near-term need for new local bus service and a long-term need for bus rapid transit that includes high - <br />frequency service, robust stations and enhanced parking facilities. <br />Washington County collaborated with Metro Transit to submit a Regional Solicitation Transit Expansion <br />application in July 2016 to fund the purchase of four buses and operate new, local bus service in Red Rock <br />Corridor between Saint Paul and Cottage Grove in the amount of $7,382,834. This application was not <br />funded. <br />Washington County also submitted a request for demonstration funds to the 2017 Legislature. This <br />request was not funded. <br />No Action: <br />Without action the transit needs of the southeastern Twin Cities region will not be met and there will be <br />no all -day, bi-directional bus service in the Red Rock Corridor. <br />13 <br />