north metro
Northstar fare cut of up to $1 is possible
- Updated: June 8, 2012 - 11:40 PM
The commuter-rail ticket prices may be temporarily lowered by as much as $1 on weekdays, pending a Met Council vote.
Conductor J.R. Long waked by the Northstar Commuter Rail at Target Field..
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Northstar commuter-rail ticket prices could be temporarily reduced by as much as $1 on weekdays, pending a vote by the Metropolitan Council later this month.
The council is being asked to consider lowering fares in an effort to boost ridership, according to a memo verified by Metro Transit officials Friday. Ridership during the first five months of 2012 was 7.25 percent below budget, according to the memo.
"Our surveys of non-Northstar riders living within the Northstar Corridor shows that a prime factor in the decision to not ride the commuter rail is the established fare," the memo states.
The current one-way fare from Big Lake, the farthest point west on the line, to the Target Field station in downtown Minneapolis is $7. The proposed fare would be $6. The fares from Elk River, Anoka and Coon Rapids would also be reduced by $1. The fare from Fridley to Minneapolis would be reduced by 25 cents, from $3.25 to $3.
The temporary fares would run from Aug. 1 through April 30, 2013, said transit spokesman Bruce Howard.
The Metro transit committee will discuss the matter Monday. A vote by the Metropolitan Council will take place June 27.
The 41-mile Northstar line opened in November 2009. In addition to the six current stations, a station will open in Ramsey this fall.
Ridership on the line was 710,426 in 2010 and 703,427 in 2011, the memo said. The budgeted ridership for 2012 is 765,000.
PAUL LEVY
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