The Minnesota Senate today passed a $4.5 billion transportation bill that includes Republican cuts to Twin Cities transit that DFLers say will force major fare hikes and service reductions.

The Senate passed the bill 36-26. The House passed the same measure earlier today.

The $109 million in transit cuts eliminates most of general fund money over the next two years for metro bus and rail operations. Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, said the cuts would trigger a 50-cent fare hike.

The bill also eliminates $1 million for planning high-speed passenger rail and nearly $8 million for outstate transit.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Joe Gimse, R-Willmar, defended the measure as providing money for road maintenance and job creation.

The measure faces a threatened veto by Gov. Mark Dayton.

Most of the $4.5 billion in transportation spending in the bill would be provided by revenues from taxes on gasoline, motor vehicle sales and registration.

The cuts to metro transit will force service reductions that could include the loss of weekend service, according to the Metropolitan Council, which oversees Twin Cities bus and rail systems.