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Cannon Falls council approves 5-year contribution to 3 Rivers transit for bus replacements and expanded connections
Summary
The Cannon Falls City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with 3 Rivers Community Action to contribute $6,000 per year for five years toward vehicle replacements and local transit services, and heard plans to expand community connections and upgrade scheduling and safety systems.
The Cannon Falls City Council on March 4 approved a memorandum of understanding with 3 Rivers Community Action that commits the city to contribute $6,000 per year for five years to support local transit vehicle replacements and service operations.
Council approval keeps in place the city’s locally coordinated Dial-a-Ride service and funds part of a multi-community effort to spread rising replacement costs for buses, officials said.
Tracy, a co-director with the transit program operated under 3 Rivers Community Action, presented the memorandum and outlined current services and near-term plans. She said the organization operates deviated fixed routes in larger towns and a demand-response Dial-a-Ride curb-to-curb service in Cannon Falls. “We are there for anyone and everyone,” Tracy said, describing the service’s use by preschoolers, students, seniors and others.
3 Rivers told the council the cost to replace buses has risen substantially; rather than ask for a single large payment when a vehicle arrives, partner communities are being asked to spread the contribution over five years at $6,000 annually. The council’s finance committee recommended approval. Councilmember Lisa moved to approve the memorandum; the motion passed with five votes in favor and one abstention.
The presentation included service details and plans officials want to implement in 2025: adding a monthly unlimited-pass option for Dial-a-Ride communities, continuing onboard camera upgrades, soliciting bids to move to an IP-based radio system, and issuing a request for proposals for new scheduling software that would allow online booking, real-time vehicle tracking and online payments. Transit staff said the system has not returned to pre-2020 ridership levels and that marketing and community outreach are planned to rebuild demand.
3 Rivers also described a new "community connections" pilot that would use underperforming route hours to create links between Cannon Falls and nearby hubs including Red Wing, Wabasha County destinations and Rice County (Northfield and Faribault). For those connections, presenters said the fare will be $5 per one-way trip regardless of the number of intermediate communities passengers pass through. Presenters noted that MnDOT currently is not permitting expansion of service hours, so the pilot repurposes existing low-performing hours rather than expanding the overall schedule.
Fares and pass details cited in the presentation: a Dial-a-Ride single-ride fare of $2.50; a student unlimited monthly pass priced at $60 for school round trips; and an unlimited monthly pass for adults, seniors and children priced at $70 for unlimited travel within the service area. Staff said several new buses arrived in 2024, with additional vehicles expected soon.
The council discussion was brief; no council members requested further changes to the memorandum before the vote. Council materials and a work session recording cited by staff will be posted for public review, and transit staff said they will share survey and outreach materials with the city when the community-connections planning begins.
Votes at a glance: the council approved the memorandum of understanding with 3 Rivers Community Action, authorizing a $6,000 per year contribution for five years; outcome: approved (5 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain).
