Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit Services Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves eliminating Link FM shuttle at several events citing low ridership and construction
Summary
The Moorhead City Council voted May 12 to approve a staff recommendation to eliminate episodic Link FM bus service to several special events in 2025 because of low ridership and construction at the former Moorhead Center Mall site.
The Moorhead City Council voted May 12 to approve a staff recommendation to eliminate episodic Link FM bus service to a set of special events this year, citing low ridership at many events and construction and parking limitations around the former Moorhead Center Mall.
Cole (staff member) described Link FM as an episodic service created to connect Moorhead and Fargo downtowns for special events and said ridership has declined since 2015 and especially since the pandemic. He told the council the events affected include Frostival Frozen Fortress, Celtic Festival, Scandinavian Festival, the Downtown Street Fair, Trollwood Mainstage Musical, and Pangea Cultivator Cultures; the packet listed those events.
Cole said the service was made episodic in 2020 and that a recent cutback to a 10:15 p.m. end time reduced the ability to return riders from events that end later. He also said construction at the Moorhead Center Mall site and reduced parking will make it difficult to operate Link FM routes in 2025.
The council opened a public hearing and received no public testimony. Council member Lisa Borgen moved to approve the recommendation and Deb White seconded. Mayor Shelly Carlson called for the voice vote; councilors answered “aye” and the motion carried.
Cole said the transit partnership will try to maintain service to Pride in the Park if that event returns to the Bluestem area and noted one vehicle is funded by the state of Minnesota; that vehicle is exempt from federal charter restrictions and might be available until it is retired (staff said retirement timing depends on vehicle acquisition and federal grant match timing). Staff suggested private charter companies as an alternative for organizers that previously relied on Link FM for event shuttles.
Council members discussed the street‑fair ridership (about 3,000 rides last year) and regional parking ramps in Fargo as partial alternatives for event parking. Council members flagged Bluestem/Trollwood and Pride in the Park as higher‑demand events to watch if service resumes after construction.
