New express bus service will replace Northstar rail line in Big Lake, Elk River

The Metropolitan Council voted Wednesday to enter into a contract with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to provide express bus service from Big Lake and Elk River to downtown Minneapolis.

New Route 882 will begin service on Jan. 5 in place of the beleaguered Northstar commuter rail line, which the council voted to shut down due to low ridership and high operating costs.

Northstar’s last run will happen over the first weekend of January as the train will serve fans headed to the Vikings’ final home game of the season.

Then buses will fill the void.

Bus trips from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis would take 77 minutes and 51 minutes from Elk River, according to a presentation delivered to the Met Council earlier this month.

The Met Council had previously approved replacing trains with two express routes serving Northstar park-and-rides in Ramsey, Anoka, Coon Rapids and Fridley.

That left Elk River and Big Lake with no substitute for Northstar, even though nearly half of the rail lines’ riders boarded in the two communities in Sherburne County, according to Metro Transit.

MnDOT does have authority to run bus service outside the metro area and contract with the Met Council to offer the service.

“I think it is a good move,” Transportation Committee member Judy Johnson said. “It’s about getting people to work downtown.”

The contract would allow Metro Transit to operate the new service for the next two years using coach buses. Fares would be $3.25 one way.

In addition to service from Elk River and Big Lake, Metro Transit will run two other routes to replace Northstar.

One route, 888, will serve Ramsey, Coon Rapids and Anoka. Buses will operate every 30 minutes during rush hour, hourly during the midday periods, and three round trips on Saturdays and Sundays, similar to the current Northstar schedule.