Community Corner

(VIDEO) Legislature Passes Steep Cuts to Metro Transit

The $4.5 billion bill also funds highways and roads.

The state Senate passed a transportation finance bill that cuts about $109 million from Metro Transit 36-26, which officials say would force the agency to drastically reduce service.

The omnibus bill's cost is $4.53 billion, and includes funding for highways, airports and other state roads. The bill, which also passed the House, will need to make it past Gov. Mark Dayton's veto pen to go into law.

Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) said the cuts to Metro Transit are "highly devastating." The bill also includes a small cut to rural transit, $7.6 million.

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"We look out for the ability of our community and the individuals in our community to be able to do these basic things they need to do that we provide the funds and the policy and the resources for," Dibble said in the floor debate.

The impact of these cuts, he said would be that "people will not be able to get to their jobs, people will not be able to get to school."

Find out what's happening in Southwest Minneapoliswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dibble said it would lead to .50 cent fare increases, as well as a steep drop in ridership. "This is going to end up costing people a whole lot more money out of their pocket, out of their bottom lines," Dibble said. 


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