According to this article in the Star Tribune, Hastings hopes to create a link between Cottage Grove’s Metro Transit route to Hastings in order to bring mass transit to Hastings.
From the article:
Hastings has accepted a state grant to pave a parking lot near downtown with hopes the 100-spot lot will become a stop for a pilot bus service into the Twin Cities.
If plans work out, public transit would, for the first time, connect the city to St. Paul and Minneapolis by year’s end, officials said.
Transit in any form is awesome and every resident should have viable access to it. Unfortunately it would appear that in this instance Hastings, the County, and the State do not appear to be doing nearly enough to ensure that the transit link is really useful for all those who have to visit the city. Some may remember that there is no eco-friendly/economical way to get to the Dakota County Courthouse in Hastings and Dakota County residents are charged a Wheelage Tax in order to promote more transportation funding. However, none of the planned dollars are coming from the Wheelage Tax and instead are coming from state grants.
What do you think about Hastings’ plans for mass transit via a downtown park and ride? Do you think it would be wise for there to be an additional stop at the courthouse so that those trying to get to the county’s legal seat would be able to do so without having to rely on owning a car or taking a very expensive cab ride? How about the fact that this is being funded entirely by the state instead of the County’s Wheelage Tax, something which was enacted to fund transportation upgrades? Perhaps you’d like to reopen the debate on whether or not it makes sense to have the majority of county court cases occurring in Hastings? Whatever you have to say about this one go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear what you have to say?
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January 4th, 2011 at 8:34 am
Years ago my sister took lived in Woodbury when there wasn’t any transit service. My brother-in-law dropped her off in Maplewood so she could catch the bus to downtown St. Paul. Now, there is bus transit all over Woodbury. I am sure there are plenty of people would would love to be able to take a bus to work. When the construction of the Hwy 61 Bridge gets going I am sure that number will increase too.
January 4th, 2011 at 8:48 am
I’m in favor of plans for Mass Transit. I drive the 61 strip for work (no, bussing it not available to/from my work) and it would be nice to see less traffic.
Knowing most people will have different ideas of how to accomplish this for location, funding etc, you’ll have that argument all the time.
I would like to see it, based on the environmental impact alone. It may only be 100 spots for now, but possibly expand down the road. I see the the lot put in Cottage Grove a few years back, which I see as a good thing.
January 4th, 2011 at 8:58 am
I agree that, if they’re going to do this, that there should be a stop at the courthouse. As it is, I think there should be stops at the government buildings in Apple Valley and West St. Paul (though that one may already have it, I don’t remember) and the other libraries as well, at least if they’re within reasonable distance from an exisiting bus route.
January 4th, 2011 at 9:20 am
I may be beating a dead horse, but if they would spend more money on auto-cars and stop spending money on the soon to be antiquated mass transit solution then everybody wins, even the trees and such.
January 4th, 2011 at 10:29 am
I too drive 61 to work, though only partway now, I drove it all the way last year. I think there should be a stop at the courthouse, since people who don’t have vehicles are often required to be at the courthouse, but everything has to start somewhere.
The most people in need of Dakota County services are likely ending up in West Saint Paul at the service center for MFIP, Food Support, WIC, and child support. is there bus service to that location? I’d call that more important than Hastings.
January 4th, 2011 at 10:35 am
dm, while the people requiring those services may not believe they’re elective services, they are. Jury Duty is not elective and thus is far more important to provide options for those who do not have the ability to drive themselves.
January 4th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Regarding the Wheelage tax, the key there is to talk to Dakota County and find out where that money goes. As to the State Funding, that’s my money to, so I say go for it.
I agree that any busing that occurs, it needs to cover the Hastings Government Center, a significant destination for various reasons.
My how Bill has mellowed, look back at his linked post from 2006 regarding the wheelage tax.
January 4th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
*I* haven’t mellowed but the writing here has. Talk to me in person some day and you’ll find me just as fired up as I was prior to January 2009 :-)
January 4th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
I never said they weren’t elective. Just sayin.
January 4th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
I am surprised Hastings is even considering this type of idea. Maybe the county is pushing it? A bus line in Hastings. I love it! A run to the courthouse should have been a must YEARS ago.
Although I think the city might not love it too much. I think a lot of people who live in Hastings, moved to Hastings because no bus line, or mass transit exsist to the city. I am not saying it’s right…I am just saying.
January 4th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
I’d like to see Target sponsor a shuttle bus to run along County Road 42 — Hwy. 55 from Prior Lake to Hastings. Its stops could be:
– Prior Lake Target
– Burnhaven Library
– Burnsville Target
– Apple Valley Target
– Dakota County Western Service Center, Galaxie Library, and Apple Valley City Hall
– Pilot Knob Target
– Robert Trail Library
– Rosemount City Hall
– Dakota County Technical College
– Dakota County Government Center
– Hastings Target and Pleasant Hill Library
– Hastings City Hall
– and return.
January 4th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Any transit route needs to have a stop at the Dakota County courthouse in Hastings.
I wonder why Jill T thinks Target would be interested in sponsoring a shuttle bus along Country Road 42. Do they have a large number of employees in the area that commute?
January 4th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
JaLurker, I do see what you’re saying, what with the historic small town atmosphere of Hastings and all that. But I think it’s become more of an exurb over the years, and the needs and wishes of people who live there have changed. I think demand for mass transit is only going to increase as time goes by.
January 5th, 2011 at 7:10 am
Jill, I like it. The south metro Target tour. “Come one, come all, come see 5 Targets ALL ON THE SAME ROAD!”
Tourist attraction for sure.
January 5th, 2011 at 10:25 am
I hope you guys are aware what *kind* of bus/rail service is being proposed here. It’s a commuter service for people who live in Hastings to go to the Cities in the morning to work and back home in the evening. It won’t do anyone any good who lives elsewhere and wants to go *to* Hastings for any purpose and get back home the same day….
January 5th, 2011 at 10:42 am
My point was that, on the one hand, it would be nice to have transit access to the numerous public facilities that are near 42 — libraries, city halls, County buildings, and so forth. On the other hand, I think it’s funny that there are so many Target stores along the same stretch. It does give Target a vested interest in helping people get around.
January 6th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Growing up in Hastings…and still having many family and friends who live in the town…I just don’t see it happening. I totally agree it’s an exurb. In my high school graduating class there was one African American. Looking back I think that is horrible! Luckily my parents were a little more “cultured” then the rest of the city and we were exposed to the city weekly. I still have friends that get pregnant, and head back to Hastings because they think it’s safe, and has not been taking over by minorities. I think they are completely delusional…and I express that as well! Hastings has other bigger problems than worrying about a transit service for the working class.
January 30th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
From a recent Star Tribune article: http://www.startribune.com/local/south/114680639.html