The Metropolitan Council will hold a public hearing Feb. 12 to discuss replacement of University-operated Route 52 bus service.
Bob Gibbons, director of customer services at the council, said the replacement service will mirror Route 52 in some respects, but some of the new plan will include redirecting the staff and students to Metropolitan Council Transit Operations routes.
Route 52 service currently includes eight scheduled routes to Minneapolis, St. Paul and some suburbs.
“The University approached the Metropolitan Council with the notion that it didn’t want to be in the transit business,” Gibbons said. “In the spirit of transit redesign, we are trying to make the bus system more cost-effective and more efficient.”
MCTO’s predecessor, the Metropolitan Transit Commission, operated Route 52 in 1989; Gibbons said the council looks forward to regaining authority for the route.
“It is not necessary to come to the public hearing to have your voice heard,” Gibbons said. The Council has set up a phone line, an e-mail address and fax line for comments.
The council has also given a survey to many Route 52 customers to gather responses to the proposed redirection.

— Lynne Kozarek