It was announced last week that a new dedicated bus stop will be coming to downtown Rosemount as the city has qualified for money from the federal government’s Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program which will give $2.3 Million to fund the project. The lot is forecast to hold up to 100 cars and have a waiting shelter but is not expected to be completed until 2014. Complete details were outlined in a recent Star Tribune article – Rosemount Cheers New Bus Stop
“We’re very, very happy,” said Beverley Miller, executive director of the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), the south-metro transit provider that will run the bus service at the park-and-ride.
The federal grant, combined with a local match, will fund construction of the parking lot and depot and the purchase of buses. The city already owns the land.
Kim Lindquist, Rosemount’s community development director, said the city will work with MVTA and other agencies to see if there’s a way to accelerate the construction schedule. The city also is finalizing details of its $596,519 local contribution.
The park-and-ride, long desired by the city, has been a lightning rod in relations between Rosemount and the MVTA. In early 2009, Rosemount threatened to withdraw from the transit authority unless service was increased and a park-and-ride was built.
The new Rosemount bus stop will be built in the shaded yellow area in the picture above which is off of 145th Street to the east of Highway 3. It will be just to the south of city hall and between Burnley Avenue and the train tracks.
As a Rosemount resident I am pleased that current and future residents will have additional transportation options. It should definitely help homeowners to have additional ways to get around the Twin Cities.