COVID-19 has done been very difficult on Metro Transit with ridership very low since the start of the pandemic. So how are they still operating?
With most people working and schooling at home, ridership on trains and buses is down 65%. It’s even worse, with a whopping 95% drop on the Northstar Commuter rail.
The agency has had to dip into reserves and is in the midst of using $214 million in federal CARES Act funds, according to spokesman Howie Padilla.
“That one-time funding is essential in taking the service levels were at right now, into 2021,” Padilla told WCCO’s Laura Oakes. “When that money runs out, we’re obviously going to be looking to see what happens. We don’t know where we’re going to be with the pandemic at that point.”
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For now, Padilla says it's a delicate balancing act, making sure they're not running too many trains and buses, but at the same time running just enough to allow for social distancing.
“We’re finding less ridership is needed,” said Padilla. “It’s a very delicate balancing act.”
Currently, Metro Transit is recommending essential trips only through at least December 18th while they wait for more guidance from the state. While they’re running reduced routes, they are not planning to reduce those further.
Buses and trains are sanitized daily according to Metro Transit. They also require masks and are limiting riders to just 10 people on a 40-foot bus, 15 people on a 60-foot bus.