MINNEAPOLIS — A dispute over funding continues for the Twin Cities-area Northstar commuter rail service, which continues to operate on a significantly reduced schedule introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports Anoka County — one of the entities which funds the 40-mile line between Minneapolis and Big Lake — says its $1.95 million contribution to 2022 operating costs is its “full and final payment,” reflecting the current two round trips a day. But Metro Transit, which operates the trains, says that does not fulfill the county’s obligations, and it needs the additional funding to restore the service to its pre-pandemic four daily round trips.
Anoka County balked at its full payment a year ago [see “Minnesota county disputes funding …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 2, 2021] and reduced its payment from almost $6 million to $1.95 million a year. Federal funding and a rebate from right-of-way owner BNSF Railway made up the difference. After the county made the same payment this year, Metro Transit said needs $4.6 million to restore the four round trips without bringing back special game-day service it used to operate for Twins baseball and Vikings football games.
Metro Transit spokesman Drew Kerr said the agency remains hopeful the dispute can be resolved, but in the meantime, it will not be able to add more trains.
Actually, the $1.9 million paid is less than 1/3 of the $6 million asked. Depending on the fixed co$ts, the agency should run either one round trip a day or none.
Politicians can screw anything up.
Which comes first? The payments then the service, or you raise service then get paid? If you only offer 2 trips, then you only get the subsidy for 2. Offer 4 and you get a subsidy for 4.