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Councilmember Wise stated he does not use the bus and asked if a survey has been conducted of <br />bus users. He agreed those living at The Residence are the most likely to use the bus. <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated it is planned to start the late bus route when the train station <br />opens. <br />Councilmember Wise suggested a six -month delay so feedback can be gained from bus riders. <br />Mayor Ramsey stated he had made it very clear that if the City was part of the Metro Tax <br />District and a party of the system, having one bus one time a day is not acceptable. He stated the <br />bus should always come into Ramsey and the Technical College. <br />Councilmember Backous agreed that Ramsey wants the same type of service that all receive. <br />Councilmember McGlone asked how the ridership of the line will drop off. <br />Councilmember Strommen referenced the Metro Transit website and recounted the number of <br />busses coming to Ramsey and the times of arrival. <br />Councilmember McGlone stated he does not know if the Council has enough clout to demand <br />additional bus routes into Ramsey or know if there would be enough people to fill a bus. <br />Mayor Ramsey noted it will increase ridership in NorthStar if riders know there is a later bus to <br />get back out to Ramsey. <br />Councilmember Elvig agreed it would increase ridership and asked about the cost to Metro <br />Transit to bring more busses into Ramsey. <br />Councilmember Strommen noted that riding a bus from Ramsey is not always convenient <br />because sometimes the regular bus does not run and you end up in Champlin or Coon Rapids, <br />needing someone to shuttle you to your car that is parked in Ramsey. <br />Councilmember Backous stated all agree that flexibility is important to increase ridership. He <br />stated he would not have agreed to enter into the Taxing District if he had known Ramsey would <br />get less service than everyone else would. <br />Councilmember McGlone stated another factor may be because bus drivers can only work so <br />many hours each day. He stated the Council needs to find out the reason Metro Transit does not <br />want to come just one more stop into Ramsey. <br />Mayor Ramsey noted there will also be discussion of a heated platform and he thinks there <br />should be concessions before the Council makes that decision. <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated he will contact Metro Transit about adding bus routes to <br />Ramsey. <br />City Council Work Session / September 4, 2012 <br />Page 4 of 5 <br />