Rochester awarded $2.7 million state grant to improve transit service
Rochester Public Transit has been awarded a $2.72 million grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to "improve and expand transit service" over the next two years.
The grant is part of a $23.7 million package announced this week by Lt. Governor Tina Smith and Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle. Rochester is one of 23 cities receiving the additional funding.
“We are grateful for leadership in St. Paul which recognizes the growing need of transit providers in Greater Minnesota to continue to improve the quality of the transportation services we provide,” said Tony Knauer, Rochester’s manager of parking and transit.
He added, “These funds allow us to serve the people of Rochester better and accelerates the pace at which we can offer some key service enhancements."
According to RPT, the grant will go toward:
- Including ZIPS paratransit service to the previously-planned addition of Sunday bus service, set to begin in July.
- Accelerating enhancements such as holiday bus service, which will also begin in July.
- Funding the pre-engineering and design of a garage expansion project at the Public Works and Transit Operations Center.
- Supporting the addition of new crosstown bus routes and an enhanced passenger counting system in year two of the grant.
RPT is set to present its 5-year transit plan to the city council at Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting. The presentation will be followed by a 30-day public comment period.
Cover photo: Med City Beat
