Northstar Commuter Coach Serves 500,000 th Rider

Milestone highlights success of coach bus service in the Northstar Corridor

Anoka , Minn. – After less than four years of operation, the Northstar Commuter Coach has given 500,000 rides. Representatives of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA), which operates and funds the coach bus service, marked the milestone today by greeting morning riders at the Elk River and Coon Rapids park-and-rides with coffee and juice.

“This is a major milestone for our commuter coach service and demonstrates how valuable having a commuting option is to the residents of the Northstar Corridor.” said Commissioner Dan Erhart, Chair of the Anoka County Regional Railroad Authority. “The coach service is an incredibly popular and successful project because commuters like the reliability, ease and comfort of the bus, and they're tired of fighting a losing battle with the congestion on area highways.”

The Northstar Commuter Coach service was initiated in 2001 by NCDA and operated by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, as a demonstration project in a transportation corridor not previously served by a transit alternative, to determine potential future interest in Northstar Commuter Rail. The NCDA has funded the commuter coach service since 2003, when it took over operations from MnDOT.

“The commuter coach is an invaluable service to me,” said Marty Raymond, an Elk River resident. “It eases the burden on my wallet, and provides a more relaxing, productive and reliable way for me to get to work and home every day.”

Ridership has exceeded initial expectations. The Northstar Commuter Coach provides about 700 rides every day on a route from Elk River to downtown Minneapolis. Approximately 265 daily commuters board the bus at Elk River and another 90 board at Coon Rapids.