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12 hours away from home each day - Outstate commute time increase surprises some, not Chisago County residentsGetting up before dark, coming home after dark, thatís the life of many Chisago County workers who commute to jobs in the Metro area. The big surprise in the recent census information was the significant increase in communte time for outstate workers, including this county. It was no surprise to those who spend half a day away from home. Minnesota drivers statewide are spending more time commuting on average than they were 10 and 20 years ago, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released June 4. The biggest rate of increase was not in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, but in Greater Minnesota counties. The average commute time in the seven-county metro area has grown from 20 minutes in 1980 to 21 minutes in 1990 to 23 minutes in 2000. ěThis confirms what other studies have shown. Commute times are increasing at a large rate in Minnesota,î said Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg. ěEven more concerning is the fact that itís no longer just a metro problem. Some of the longest commute times in Minnesota-ranging from 30 to 32 minutes each-were for commuters in Isanti, Chisago, Kanabec, Pine and Sherburne counties.î Also notable was Todd County, whose increase of 51.2 percent was the largest change in commute times in the state. Commute times increase More commuters driving alone However, the decline in transit use was smaller from 1990 to 2000 than from 1980 to 1990. Between 1996 and 2000, in fact, Metro Transit ridership in the Twin Cities increased by 18.7 percent. ěMany of the counties with the greatest increase in commute times are those that would have been served by the Northstar Commuter Rail project, which the Legislature failed to fund this session,î Tinklenberg said. ěThe Northstar corridor, which would connect the St. Cloud/Rice area with downtown Minneapolis along highways 10 and 47, is the fastest growing area in the state.î Annual urban mobility study ěWe know that congestion in the metro area is getting worse and at a faster pace than almost anywhere in the country,î Tinklenberg said. ěThe Legislature should take this seriously.î HRA-EDA working to relieve area commuters By MaryHelen Swanson Chisago Countyís HRA-EDA (economic development organization) has set a goal to encourage business and private investment. HRA-EDA Director Chris Eng recently informed the county commissioners that 65 percent of Chisago Countyís working residents commute outside of the area and 80 percent of the working residents in North Branch commute. Based on 2000 information from the Minnesota Department of Economic Security, the state wide average hourly wage is $16.51/hour. In Chisago County, the average hourly wage is $12.55/hour. Chisago County workers make $8,244 per year less than the statewide average. People are looking for higher paying jobs in the Metro area. One of the ways the HRA-EDA is working to keep jobs at home is to promote affordable high-speed Internet access for business retention and recruitment. According Director Eng, the top three things businesses are looking for when selecting a site are available workforce (and he believes we have that there already), inexpensive land, buildings, infrastructure and gap financing, and communications systems between Minneapolis/St. Paul and/or other states. The HRA-EDA is currently working on a land acquisition program to offer incoming businesses a place to operate. Sites being considered include Wyoming Business Park, North Branch Industrial Park, and Rush City Industrial Park. According to Eng, two businesses have already expressed interest in county sites, each with the potential for 100-170 new jobs. ©ECM Post Review |