Emmer visits St. Cloud's New Flyer, discusses Northstar's future
Emmer toured the bus manufacturing facility alongside Federal Transit Administration Administrator Marc Molinaro and local leaders like Metro Bus CEO Ryan Daniel and former Mayor Dave Kleis, chair of the Metro Bus Board of Commissioners.
The visit was part of efforts to promote the "One Big Beautiful Bill" and the American manufacturing industry, which Emmer and Molinaro discussed on the tour, as well as the future of the Northstar commuter rail.
"One of the greatest things about changes in administration is fresh ideas that come in," Emmer said. "Is there a way that we can get more decision making at the local level, is there a way we can make it more efficient to save costs? I'm just really excited because of the new way of looking at manufacturing."
Rail service: Minnesota's Northstar commuter rail, link bus service expected to stop
The new legislation signed into law in July includes many tax cuts, as well as major cuts to programs like Medicaid, SNAP and clean energy credits.
This summer, the Federal Transit Administration also made $1.5 billion available to cities for new bus purchases as part of its Low or No Emission Grant Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program.
Molinaro said the bill, with its focus on American manufacturing and decreasing regulation, would likely boost production at New Flyer and support the country's public transportation industry, particularly buses.
"Our public transit systems are the circulatory system of America," he said. "What the president understands... is making it easier for transit systems to make those purchases."
While the two leaders celebrated the use of buses in Minnesota and nationwide, Emmer emphasized the importance of "smart transit" and criticized the Northstar commuter rail, saying the cost for the route "doesn't make any sense."
After prolonged rising operational costs and low ridership, the Northstar rail is expected to make its final trip early next year. The route currently connects central Minnesota to the Twin Cities, with a train to Big Lake and the Northstar Link bus that takes passengers to St. Cloud.
Light rail is not a solution to the region's public transportation needs, Emmer said, and buses can be more useful by serving people where they are rather than making people go to the train.
Metropolitan Council plans to transition to bus service instead, which will only go as far north as Ramsey, according to presentation documents.
Arctic Cat: Arctic Cat resumes production at St. Cloud, Thief River Falls plants
A Metro Transit survey of Northstar riders also found that if it transitioned to an hourly bus service from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., about half of riders said they would be somewhat likely to use the service, with a third saying they are not at all likely to use it.
"We've had this debate ongoing in this state for quite a while, how are you going to get the most bang for the dollars that you have? Light rail has not proven to be the answer to that question," Emmer said.
New Flyer CEO Paul Soubry also spoke at Thursday's tour, saying the "One Big Beautiful Bill" aligns with the company's goals of stable funding, efficiency and retaining skilled workers.
"What the Administrator is trying to do is streamline the way that money gets to the operators and how they buy vehicles," Soubry said. "The ability to be effective as an American employer is exactly what they're talking about."
New Flyer, one of St. Cloud's largest employers, has about 900 workers at its St. Cloud facility. It produces traditional diesel, electric and natural gas-powered buses for 18 transit agencies nationwide, including Metro Transit, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.
Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at teking@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Rep. Emmer visits St. Cloud's New Flyer on Big Beautiful Bill tour
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