By MaryHelen Swanson

The Chisago-Isanti Heartland Express transit program is getting a facelift.

In existence for 20 years in Chisago County and 11 in Isanti County, the program had begun to run up against some expensive snags.

According to Heartland Express director Jackie Forner, passenger counts on the buses had become stalled, while passenger demands increased.

The demand response system that has been in place meant staff worked all afternoon building routes for the next day.

The positive side of the current system was that a person could call a day ahead for a specific pick-up the next day. But scheduling all these requests became time-consuming and costly.

Forner also noted that of the six transit systems (like Heartland) in Mn/DOT District 3, the Heartland Express currently is rated toward the bottom in performance.

To correct this, Forner brought a system redesign proposal to the Dec. 6 Chisago County Board meeting. The Chisago-Isanti Heartland Express Joint Powers had already approved the new system Nov. 14.

The system was approved by the Chisago commissioners also.

The new system will have regular routes and actual "bus stops."

One will be running from North Branch to Rush City, once an hour, all day, explained Scott Manske, Heartland's operations manager.

Likewise, a regular route will run from Center City to Chisago City and Wyoming all day.

One bus, running 8 hours each day, will handle all outlying areas.

And every other hour there will be a bus running back and forth from Cambridge to North Branch.

The new system will allow for better control of budgeted hours, Manske said.

Pluses to the new system include:

ï Clients can transfer and travel the entire two-county area.

ï The new system streamlines taking orders by giving pick-up and return times immediately.

ï Next day orders can be taken until 3 p.m.

ï Passengers can get on at any bus stop (i.e. North Branch, Rush City etc.) without calling ahead.

In addition, a bus schedule listing the bus stops and times will be available, so it will be easier to market the new service.

One of the drawbacks, and a concern especially for Commissioner Ben Montzka, is the loss of service to open enrollment students. Under the new system, they won't be delivered to their school doors but will have to walk from a bus stop.

And, children under seven, those who many have used the transit program to go to day care, etc., must be in the accompaniment of an adult. Children over seven must be able to travel independently.

The system will use the Volunteer Driver program to transport residents in the outlying areas who don't fit into regular service routes to the new bus stops.

The approved system will begin June 1, 2007.