Metro Bus delays route restructuring
by Lee Voss, WJON.com

ST. CLOUD -- St. Cloud Metro Bus is the feeling the pinch of the state budget deficit much like every other state-funded agency.

Metro Bus gets just over half of its operating budget from the state and is delaying plans for a major route restructuring because of the shortfall.

Dave Tripp is the St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission Executive Director.

He says it would be irresponsible to make the changes now because the changes involve extra service hours, new routes and restructured routes with more service.  He says those changes mean it will cost more for Metro Bus top provide the services.

Tripp says they will still find a way to serve the new Wal-Mart and Sam's Club customers. The route changes would have created more direct routes to and from Epic Center, but Tripp says they will obviously need to enhance service in that area when the stores open.

Tripp says the new service would cost an estimated $1.3-million a year.

It's unclear when Metro Bus will now make the changes.