Transportation Choices 2020

The Transportation Choices 2020 initiative is more than a bill--it's a vision for a 21st century, region-wide transit system. Picture this: the Central Corridor light rail line connects the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis. People are reading newspapers on the Northstar commuter rail as they ride between Big Lake and the Twin Cities. The Cedar Avenue bus rapid transit line is up and running, the bus system has twice as many riders, and the Southwest light rail line is connecting downtown Minneapolis to Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie. Check out a map of what our transit system could look like (pdf, 4.92 MB).

Transportation Choices 2020 had a very successful year in 2008, primarily because of the Transit Partners coalition's dedicated advocacy, community organizing, and media work. Last year's transportation bill implemented a 1/4 cent sales tax (in five of seven metro counties) dedicated solely to new light rail, commuter rail, and express bus lines. The CTIB (Counties Transitway Improvement Board) is busy directing this new sales tax revenue to the capital and operating costs of key transit projects.

This is a great start, but it won't meet the ultimate goal of the Transportation Choices 2020 initiative--to complete eight new light rail, commuter rail, and express bus lines, and double transit ridership by 2020. To reach this, our region still needs approximately $100 million per year.

There is still plenty of work to do in expanding our regional bus system and keeping transit fares affordable. Even with the 25 cent fare increase implemented in October 2008, the bus system will still have a $42 million budget hole. The Metropolitan Council plans to implement another 50 cent fare increase unless new funding can fill the gap.

Our region still lacks the funding needed to ensure that all residents can reach their destinations safely, conveniently, and affordably. Transit for Livable Communities will continue to work during 2009 to protect transit riders and help grow our transit system.