The number of commuters in southeastern Minnesota has increased since 1990. Because of this roads are being used more often and public transportation use is up. This trend is creating a demand for better road conditions and more transportation options. In this three-part series, the Austin Daily Herald takes a look at how commuting is affecting the way people get around our region.

The Mayo Clinic bus is a transportation option for those who work there or in elsewhere in Rochester, but more options are becoming available for those who want to use public transportation locally.

Use of public transportation in Mower County has skyrocketed since 1990 and an average of 5,400 people a month use Mower County Transit bus services alone. Only 47 people reported using some form of public transportation in 1990, but in 2000 256 people said they did the same.

Recently, Mower County Transit has been expanding its services, starting last fall with routes and continuing this spring with work routes to Austin's major employers.

MCT still offers to pick up people when they call ahead and soon may be sending buses out to smaller communities in the county.

"If people want to get somewhere, we'll get them there," said Eduardo Alver, MCT transit coordinator.

Regular routes run Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the weekends.

Work routes begin picking people up at 5 a.m. at stops throughout Austin and pick up employees from Hormel, Austin Packaging, Austin Medical Center and Quality Pork Processors as late as 12:30 a.m.

"A lot of people are using it at night," Alver said of the work bus routes.

Although senior citizens are the main users of MCT, the bus service is trying to attract younger riders.

"Teens don't want to ride the bus. They don't think it's cool," Alver said.

MCT also wants to try to set up routes outside of Austin. It is proposing a bus that would pick people up at 9 a.m. so they can run errands in Austin and then the bus would pick them up at 3 p.m., Alver said.

People outside of Austin have been requesting the service, but Alver said MCT would have to see if enough people are interested in it to pursue it. MCT will probably pick a town to try it out before they commit to it.

Most of the funding for the bus services comes from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The rest comes from the county and bus fares. One-way tickets for a ride are $1, 12-ride tickets are $10 and unlimited monthly passes are $30.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation also is considering more options for public transportation in the area. MnDOT has been setting up park and ride lots in smaller communities for those who work in Rochester. Most recently it set up a park and ride lot in Dodge Center for up to 20 riders. MnDOT hires buses from Rochester City Lines to pick people up at park and ride sites.

"It's probably going to be an on-going need in this area," said Jean Meyer, MnDOT transit director, of public transportation.

To establish park and ride lots, MnDot speaks with city and county officials to establish a need in the area and to work out where the commuters could park during the day. Sometimes road construction will prompt MnDot to set up a park and ride service so that less traffic will travel on the road under repairs, Meyer said.

Brian Jergenson, public affairs coordinator for MnDot in southeastern Minnesota, said MnDot's goal is to provide many transportation options.

"We can't always depend on drive-alone vehicles," Jergenson said. "The census data indicates that commuting times are increasing in greater Minnesota."

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com