MINNESOTA - Not long ago Washington County was far off the beaten path of public transit, but a discussion Tuesday showed how much that's changed.

Studies of three major transit corridors have been launched with a fourth in the works. Transit centers are planned in Woodbury and Newport. Commissioners hold more sway in the metrowide debate over which transit projects should come first and at what cost.

Commissioners met in a workshop to review the county's role in the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB), formed two years ago by five metro counties that assess a quarter-cent sales tax to study and build transit.

Washington County commissioners support spending CTIB money on the current major project, the Central Corridor light-rail train between St. Paul and Minneapolis. But they also expect Ramsey and Hennepin counties to send plenty of CTIB money their way when Washington County's turn comes for a big project.

"We're going to want those deep pockets funding ours," said Commissioner Gary Kriesel.

Washington County has dedicated some of its CTIB receipts to pay for studies of the I-94 corridor east from St. Paul to the St. Croix River. Buses and trains someday could zoom past Oakdale, Woodbury and Lake Elmo depending on study findings and available money.