Metro Transit has plans to dramatically improve both local and express bus service over the next 10 to 15 years — but they come with a hefty price tag: $72.3 million a year.

The agency has come up with a list of 122 improvements that by 2030 would increase the frequency of service on existing routes, make route connections easier and introduce more reverse-commute options for those heading from the core cities to the suburbs. It also includes adding 11 arterial Bus Rapid Transit lines that would run on urban streets such as Penn Avenue.

The plan will be the subject of five meetings between Nov. 5 and 17 and a public hearing on Nov. 18. The Metropolitan Council will adopt the plan sometime in early 2015.

For now, Metro Transit does not have the money to expand service. No cuts to existing service are planned, the agency says, but new service would only be added if funding increases.

On the other hand, expanded service could increase ridership by nearly 16 million rides a year, officials say.

The plan follows a systemwide review and would address gaps in service between buses and other transit such as the commuter rail and light-rail lines and the Red Line BRT, said Metro Transit spokesman Drew Kerr.

"We need strong local and express bus service to connect to all these transit networks, and provide the connections to where people need to go," he said.

Of the 122 enhancements, 77 expand geographic coverage and improve network connections. Some also improve frequency on existing routes and expand the time of service. The plan also includes 14 reverse-commute routes.

The plan estimates that if all the items were enacted, Metro Transit would need an additional $72.3 million a year by 2030. That is 33 percent more than the agency's 2015 operating budget.

Currently, transit services are funded by a transit tax and a portion of the motor vehicle sales tax. It is unclear where the additional money would come from.

Under the plan, many of the enhancements would take effect in the next five years, "but we'll take a graduated approach. We don't expect to make them all at one time," Kerr said.

The extra bus service would generate about 16 million new rides a year and require about 100 additional buses, the plan predicts.

A public hearing will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Metropolitan Council Chambers, 390 N. Robert St., St. Paul.

Public meetings will be:

• 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 5, at the Hennepin County Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

• 1-3:30 p.m. Nov. 8, North Community YMCA, 1711 W. Broadway Av., Minneapolis.

• 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 13, Hennepin County Southdale Library, 7001 York Av. S., Edina.

• 1-3:30 p.m. Nov. 15, Conway Recreation Center, 2090 Conway Av., St. Paul.

• 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Anoka County Northtown Central Library, 711 County Hwy. 10 NE., Blaine.

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768