Big Lake (Metro Transit station)
Encyclopedia
Big Lake Station is a Northstar Line commuter rail station in Big Lake, Minnesota
, located at 19691 County Road 43. The station features bicycle lockers and a park and ride lot with capacity for 518 vehicles. Commute time to downtown Minneapolis from this station is about 50 minutes. The fare to downtown Minneapolis from this station is $7.00 on weekdays and $5.25 on weekends and holidays; the fare to and from any other station is $3.25 on weekdays and $2.50 on weekends and holidays.
This station will be the northbound terminus until funding for an extension to St. Cloud
is secured. In the meantime, a commuter bus branded the Northstar Link (route 887) connects Big Lake with St. Cloud, stopping at the Metro Bus downtown transit center, St. Cloud State University
, and a commuter parking lot at Lincoln Avenue and U.S. Highway 10. The bus fare is $3.00 one-way if commuting toward Minneapolis, or $1.50 if riding the "reverse" commute. The bus is currently operated by St. Cloud Metro Bus, rather than Metro Transit, so Metro Transit passes like the Go-To card
cannot be used.
The maintenance facility for the Northstar trains was built just to the south. This station also marks the southern end of a nine-mile stretch where the BNSF mainline is just single-tracked rather than double-tracked. A second track will need to be added up to Becker
to increase capacity if commuter rail is to be expanded to St. Cloud.
Big Lake, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,063 people, 2,117 households, and 1,570 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,688.4 people per square mile . There were 2,206 housing units at an average density of 614.3 per square mile...
, located at 19691 County Road 43. The station features bicycle lockers and a park and ride lot with capacity for 518 vehicles. Commute time to downtown Minneapolis from this station is about 50 minutes. The fare to downtown Minneapolis from this station is $7.00 on weekdays and $5.25 on weekends and holidays; the fare to and from any other station is $3.25 on weekdays and $2.50 on weekends and holidays.
This station will be the northbound terminus until funding for an extension to St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
is secured. In the meantime, a commuter bus branded the Northstar Link (route 887) connects Big Lake with St. Cloud, stopping at the Metro Bus downtown transit center, St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...
, and a commuter parking lot at Lincoln Avenue and U.S. Highway 10. The bus fare is $3.00 one-way if commuting toward Minneapolis, or $1.50 if riding the "reverse" commute. The bus is currently operated by St. Cloud Metro Bus, rather than Metro Transit, so Metro Transit passes like the Go-To card
Go-To card
The Go-To card is a contactless smart card used to pay fares for bus, light rail, and commuter rail lines operated by Metro Transit and other transit agencies in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota...
cannot be used.
The maintenance facility for the Northstar trains was built just to the south. This station also marks the southern end of a nine-mile stretch where the BNSF mainline is just single-tracked rather than double-tracked. A second track will need to be added up to Becker
Becker, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,673 people, 929 households, and 728 families residing in the city. The population density was 308.6 people per square mile . There were 967 housing units at an average density of 111.6 per square mile...
to increase capacity if commuter rail is to be expanded to St. Cloud.