Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit Northstar topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Coon Rapids council approves letter urging replacement transit service if Northstar commuter rail ends
Summary
The council approved a staff-drafted letter requesting replacement service and concessions if the Northstar commuter rail is discontinued, citing investments near Riverdale Station and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and state representatives.
The Coon Rapids City Council on March 4 approved a letter asking regional transit authorities and state leaders to provide replacement service and concessions if the Northstar commuter rail service is discontinued.
Council members said the city invested tax-increment financing and other infrastructure around the Riverdale Station to support transit-oriented development, and they asked for assurances that service levels and access to the Riverdale Shopping Center would be preserved if the rail line is removed. Council member Carlson said the city’s available transit services had declined and expressed hope service could return toward pre-COVID frequency, with buses running hourly rather than every other hour. Council member Geisler said the city has coordinated with neighboring jurisdictions and with Anoka County and reported preliminary contact with state legislators; the city manager said Sen. Abler had called to encourage pursuit of concessions for the station.
City staff said the draft letter requests replacement service (for example, increased bus frequency) and asks regional partners to consider concessions related to infrastructure investments the city made at the Riverdale Station. Council members discussed the possibility of coordinating replacement service across nearby park-and-ride facilities, including Foley Park-and-Ride, and urged that any replacement maintain or improve frequency to help rebuild ridership. The council also encouraged neighboring cities to prepare similar letters so jurisdictions along the corridor speak with a consistent message.
Council member Ricardo moved to approve the attached letter and allow staff to make minor edits to ensure consistent messaging; the motion carried by voice vote. The city manager said final signature documents would likely be routed via DocuSign to council members for execution.
Why it matters: Council members stressed that Coon Rapids’ investments adjacent to Riverdale Station support local housing and business access to transit. They said a loss of the Northstar service without an adequate replacement would affect employees, residents and developers who oriented projects to commuter-rail service.
Next steps: Staff will finalize the letter with minor edits (staff and council members indicated changes would be limited to naming conventions such as spelling out Metropolitan Council) and route it to council members for signature via electronic signature software.
