Transit Briefs: Metro Transit, SCVTA
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
“Nonpolice community service officers” at Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul began checking fares Dec. 4 on the Blue and Green light rail lines. (Metro Transit Photograph)
Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., launches a fare enforcement program. Also, more affordable housing will be built on Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA)-owned property.
Metro Transit
“Nonpolice community service officers” at Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul began checking fares on Dec. 4, as part of the agency’s Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP), according to the Star Tribune. The program is starting on the Blue and Green light rail lines. Riders are being asked to show proof of payment and “[s]cofflaws” will be given “noncriminal citations” by the officers, who receive training on “how to respond to mental health issues, de-escalation, first aid, naloxone administration and CPR,” the newspaper said.
“Before the Legislature approved TRIP this year, police could issue only misdemeanor citations to fare evaders, agency spokesman Drew Kerr wrote in a November post on Metro Transit’s website,” according to the paper.
Having community service officers inspecting fares allows “police to focus on serious issues,” Kerr reported, according to the Star Tribune, which noted that the new citations start at $35 for the first violation and are due within 90 days.
“First-time fare evaders can reduce fines by buying fares to be used later or by watching a video about transit expectations, according to Metro Transit,” the Star Tribune said. “Riders who can’t prove they paid the fare or provide identification will be asked to leave the train; if they refuse, police will be called and violators will be cited for trespassing.”
For more on Metro Transit, read “A Tale of Twin Cities,” by Railway Age Contributing Editor David Peter Alan.
SCVTA
SCVTA on Dec. 1 announced a partnership with MidPen Housing to lease property next to the Capitol Light Rail Station on the Green Line in San Jose (see map above). The company plans to develop 203 affordable apartments for families and individuals who earn 60% of the Area Median Income and below on a portion of the 10-acre property located at Capitol Expressway and Narvaez Avenue. The property is currently a Park & Ride lot next to the station, which is also served by bus routes 37 and 70.
“We applaud VTA for prioritizing affordable housing on the land, and the County and City for their commitment to addressing the needs of the community’s most vulnerable residents,” said Matthew O. Franklin, President and CEO of MidPen Housing, which builds and manages affordable homes in Santa Clara and 11 other Northern California counties.
According to SCVTA General Manager/CEO Carolyn Gonot, the agency has seven properties in the pipeline of its Transit-Oriented Development program, which requires developers to include affordable housing for at least 25% of the project units. “These projects are important to give residents better, more environmentally friendly access to jobs, schools, and other important destinations,” Gonot said.
“We can accommodate our city’s growth and reduce traffic congestion by building housing in locations with access to many transit options that take residents where they want to go,” San Jose Mayor and SCVTA Board Member Matt Mahan said.
