The long-struggling Northstar Commuter Rail line between Minneapolis and Big Lake may be shut down and replaced with bus service, according to a joint announcement Monday from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the Metropolitan Council.
“As the world and consumer demand changes, we must be willing to be flexible and innovative to offer better service while saving dollars,” the two bodies said in a statement.
A firm timeline for a possible closure has not been determined.
The news comes after a MnDOT report released Monday found that transitioning to bus service between Minneapolis and St. Cloud would cost millions less than the status quo. It costs about $12 million annually to operate Northstar, a budget that would shrink to $2 million if buses were used.
“This is the beginning to finally end Northstar service, with its ridiculously low ridership, its ridiculously huge operating subsidies and its ridiculously expensive maintenance costs,” said Rep. Jon Koznick, R-Lakeville, who introduced a bill Monday at the Capitol to shutter the line.
Northstar, which began service in 2009, has long struggled to attract riders largely because its northern terminus is in Big Lake — and not in the more-populous St. Cloud, despite support from the business and academic communities to extend it there.
Ridership on Northstar cratered by nearly 98% during the pandemic as workers transitioned to remote work, with an average of 60 weekday rides reported in April 2020 with a $116 subsidy per passenger.
Although many employees have returned to the workplace since then, Northstar’s recovery has been lackluster, with just over 127,000 rides last year, renewing Republican lawmakers' chorus to shut it down.