State Senator Tarryl Clark is behind a proposal that would give free rides to disabled veterans on St. Cloud’s Metro Bus system. The senator is seeking legislative funding to the Metropolitan Transit Commission to offset the cost of providing the free rides—something Twin Cities veteran’s already enjoy under state funding approved last year.  Clark calls the service fundamentally important but she wants to ensure the books balance to fund the program.

The Metro Bus system absorbed the cost of the program in their budget, something the senator feels is not fair to pass along, an unfunded mandate to Greater Minnesota public transportation providers.  The program has cost Metro Bus 36-thousand dollars in the last year according to executive director Dave Tripp. The amendment was added to the Omnibus Transportation policy bill, which is now in conference committee.