Federal funding for the popular Forest Lake to Minneapolis commuter buses ends Tuesday, the earliest day the new Interstate 35W bridge could open, but bus service will continue through September and possibly longer.

Washington, Chisago and Anoka counties are working with the Metropolitan Council to figure out a long-term solution for Route 288, said Dennis Hegberg, who chairs the Washington County Commission. Buses started running in January and ridership has grown to the point that two of them are standing-room-only.

"It shows that if you provide a good, reliable service, people will use it," Hegberg said.

Fares will rise to $4.75 one way from the current fare of $2.75 to help offset costs and keep the buses running, Hegberg said.

That higher fare is comparable to a similar route, 888, that runs from Elk River to Minneapolis, said Arlene McCarthy, the Met Council's director of metropolitan transportation services.

That route, which currently costs $4.50 one way, will increase to $4.75 on Oct. 1, she said.

Bus service from Forest Lake, which started in January after the federal government surprised east-metro counties with a $5 million windfall, gained ridership through the spring. In February the service averaged 300 commuters a day with a daily high of 350. In May, the service averaged 433 commuters a day with a high of 506. The six inbound and five outbound daily buses carried about 8,700 passengers in July and 54,345 in the first six months of use, according to Met Council figures.

The route was expected to last through December, but funds were available only as long as construction on the I-35W bridge continued. It was finished more than two months ahead of schedule.

Saving the Forest Lake service has been a priority among Washington County commissioners, who are pressing to establish transit corridors in fast-growing areas. The Forest Lake-Hugo area is expected to surge in population by 2020, and traffic forecasts predict that by then congestion on I-35/I-35E will increase by 25 percent south of I-694, by 65 percent between White Bear Lake and Hugo, and by 50 percent north of Hugo.

McCarthy said the Metropolitan Council is prepared to pay a quarter of the subsidy, or about $45,000, to keep the Forest Lake buses running through 2008. Hegberg said commissioners in Washington, Anoka and Chisago counties will decide whether to participate.

Metro Transit will re-evaluate the route from Forest Lake and other bus routes from the north after the new bridge opens, said Bonnie Kollodge, a Met Council spokeswoman.

Hegberg said he met with bus commuters at the Forest Lake terminal Thursday to tell them about the fare increases.

"They felt the system was good," he said. "They were willing to pay a higher fare to keep it going."

Kevin Giles • 651-298-1554