AMCAT named transit authority of the year

Published 10:09 am Monday, October 28, 2013

The Austin-Mower County Area Transit received high praise from the state, as it prepares to merge with Freeborn and Steele counties.

The Minnesota Public Transportation Association named AMCAT the Transit Authority of the Year recently.

County Coordinator Craig Oscarson said it largely due to AMCAT’s success, high ridership rates, and for local leaders’ willingness to merge the transit system with Steele and Freeborn counties.

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In August, the board of directors for AMCAT, the local public busing entity, voted to dissolve and to not submit a grant application to the state Department of Transportation. That way, Cedar Valley Services, which also runs Albert Lea Transit throughout Freeborn County, could take over.

“It’s good to see that finally at the end we were recognized for our efforts,” said Tom Dankert, city finance director. Dankert said MnDOT has yet to award a contract to take over AMCAT, but city and county officials have been told Cedar Valley is the likely candidate to run bus routes in Mower County based on the not-for-profit’s experience.

Oscarson said last week that Cedar Valley Services should maintain the same level of service in Austin and Mower County, and the authority could add some intra-county routes.

AMCAT is primarily funded through the state, though rider fees account for about 15 percent of its funding.

MnDOT officials have pushed Mower, Steele and Freeborn counties to merge public transportation services earlier this year as a way to save money and reduce the amount of transit authorities in the state. Though Austin and Mower officials were working on a plan to create a tri-county transportation authority, Steele County opted to turn its services over to Cedar Valley Services.

City and county officials say they are more than happy to continue running public transportation: Dankert said AMCAT is one of the top four public transit entities in the state in terms of low cost and high ridership. Yet officials say the move is likely best for public transportation in the county.

AMCAT will stay in business until the end of the year, when its busing fleet, building and all other assets would transfer over to Cedar Valley Services, assuming the nonprofit is given state funding to run public transit.

The nonprofit will also likely keep all AMCAT employees and routes, with the possibility of creating inter-county routes in the future. City and county officials told the board there may be a temporary disruption in service when the switch takes place next year.

Tom Dankert and Craig Oscarson accept Austin-Mower County Transit’s award for Transportation Authority of the Year at St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center.  Photo provided

Tom Dankert and Craig Oscarson accept Austin-Mower County Transit’s award for Transportation Authority of the Year at St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center.
Photo provided