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Metropolitan Council

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Metropolitan Council
Gare Metropolitan Council Logo 5991cb016d65e

The Metropolitan Council is the regional policy-making body, planning agency, and provider of essential services for the Twin Cities metropolitan region. The Council's mission is to foster efficient and economic growth for a prosperous region. 

Press Releases

Metro Transit
The Metropolitan Council has endorsed Network Now, a framework for making transit service for Metro Transit, Minn., riders more available on busy corridors throughout the day on nights and weekends and between suburban communities.
Network Now will make transit more available on busy corridors throughout the day, nights and weekends, as well as between suburban communities.
June 9, 2025
Metropolitan Council
Metro Transit Gold Line opened March 22.
The Metro Gold Line is the first of three BRT lines Metro Transit will open in 2025 and will provide frequent all-day bus service across a 10-mile stretch of the Interstate 94...
March 25, 2025
Metropolitan Council
The Metropolitan Council will be launching its plans to develop a piece of land near its METRO Green Line as a part of a tentative developer agreement with the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority in Minnesota and Flaherty & Collins.
The Metropolitan Council will be launching its plans to develop a piece of land near its METRO Green Line as a part of a tentative developer agreement with the Saint Paul Housing...
March 14, 2025
Metropolitan Council
The Metropolitan Council's budget plans for investments into Metro Transit’s Transit Rider Investment Program, supplemental security officers and safety ambassadors.
The budget plans for investments into Metro Transit’s Transit Rider Investment Program, supplemental security officers and safety ambassadors.
Jan. 8, 2025
Metropolitan Council
In 2027, Gold Line service will be extended to downtown Minneapolis, Minn., allowing people to travel more efficiently across the system.
In 2027, Gold Line service will be extended to downtown Minneapolis, Minn., allowing people to travel more efficiently across the metro.
Oct. 23, 2024
Metropolitan Council
Minnesota cities of Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Hennepin County voted to approve preliminary design plans for the Blue Line Extension..
The cities of Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Hennepin County, Minn., were given the opportunity to review early drafts of the design plans for station locations, track ...
Oct. 4, 2024
Metro Transit
Metro Transit and local partners are expanding the use of bus lanes, signal technology and other tactics to improve transit reliability across the region.
Expanded bus lanes and new signal technology is a part of a wider plan to bring on new bus rapid transit lines to keep buses moving.
Sept. 19, 2024
Metro Transit
Metro Transit TRIP Agents.
The agency notes crime was down 17.5 percent in Q2 2024 vs Q2 2023 while ridership has increased nine percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023.
Aug. 7, 2024
Metropolitan Council
Metro Transit Blue Line train.
The cities will review preliminary designs for the tracks, stations and structures that serve their neighborhoods.
July 26, 2024
Metro Transit
Metro Transit bus.
The service improvements being made are due to the success of the agency’s recruiting efforts of frontline transit workers.
July 24, 2024

Articles

PSTA
PSTA meets with community members over its Connected Community Bus Network.
PSTA is updating its bus schedules and routes while Metro Transit has endorsed a plan to improve Metro Transit service by 40 percent.
March 28, 2025
GTran
GTrans has launched its Bolt on-demand service.
GTrans has launched its Bolt on-demand service and the Metropolitan Council has expanded its on-demand service area while Pueblo Transit has launched a new vanpooling service ...
Jan. 9, 2025
City of Huntsville
The city of Huntsville, Ala., received an $850,000 grant from the FTA as part of a pilot program for land-use study along a potential BRT corridor.
The Metropolitan Council received $700,000 in funding for the Blue Line Extension in Minneapolis, Minn., while the city of Huntsville, Ala., received $850,000 for a potential ...
May 6, 2024
Metro Transit
Lesley Kandaras has been named as Metro Transit's next general manager.
Kandaras has worked for both Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council and will be the first woman to permanently hold the position of general manager.
July 28, 2023
Mass Transit/Mischa Wanek-Libman
A Metro Transit Blue Line train in downtown Minneapolis, Minn.
The recommendations by the University of Minnesota note the focus of the line’s development should be on the benefits it brings to the people currently living and working along...
July 3, 2023
Metro Transit
Officials with Metro Transit, Metro Transit Police Department and community organizations held an event June 1 to kick off the agency's Transit Service Intervention Project.
The project will bring together community partners to enhance social services outreach and improve Code of Conduct enforcement on the Twin Cities’ transit system.
June 2, 2023
Metro Transit
Metro Transit held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Metro B Line bus rapid transit project, which will begin serving customers in 2024.
Metro Transit’s sixth BRT route promises to connect Uptown in south Minneapolis and Union Station in St. Paul with travel times that are 20 percent faster than current bus service...
May 9, 2023
Metropolitan Council
FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez presented a check to Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit representatives for the METRO Gold Line BRT. The event included local and state elected officials including several of Minnesota's Members of Congress.
The 10.3-mile BRT route will feature 21 stations and will be the state’s first BRT route to primarily operate in bus-only lanes.
April 12, 2023
Metro Transit
The Metropolitan Council approved more than $80 million in funding for regional transit projects in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area.
The Met Council approved more than $80 million in funding for transit-related projects as part of its significant bump in formula funding from the IIJA.
Dec. 28, 2022
Metro Transit
Officials celebrate the opening of Metro Transit's fifth BRT line, the D Line, which will connect two major transit hubs - Mall of America to Brooklyn Transit Center - along an 18-mile corridor.
The 18-mile BRT route connects Mall of America, downtown Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington and Brooklyn Transit Center.
Dec. 5, 2022

Additional content from Metropolitan Council

Metropolitan Council
Metro Transit Blue Line train.
The document evaluates the potential social, economic and environmental benefits and impacts that may occur because of the design, construction and operation of the METRO Blue...
June 17, 2024
Metro Transit
Metro Transit's ridership has increased during the past year while crime has declined.
The agency saw a 13 percent increase in ridership in March 2024 from March 2023, as well as reported crime declined 7.7 percent from the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter...
April 30, 2024
Metro Transit
Met Council approves expansion of Minneapolis' Metro Transit's electric bus fleet.
Metro Transit will receive 20 new 40-foot zero-emission buses to be used on its local service routes.
April 29, 2024
Metropolitan Council
Sherman Associates opened Longfellow Station Apartments in 2013 across Hiawatha from the 38th St. Station on the METRO Blue Line.
The Met Council found more than $16 billion in development occurred within a half mile of high-frequency bus and rail transit.
April 12, 2024
Metro Transit
A rendering of the Metro Transit Gold Line route.
The Gold Line is one of three new BRT lines Metro Transit will open next year, expanding the region’s network of Metro lines that provide reliable, all-day service and stations...
April 3, 2024
Metro Transit
The Metropolitan Council, ATU Local 1005 approve new labor agreement with wage increases.
Under the new contract, wages for all ATU-represented workers will increase 13 percent from July 2023 through August 2025, higher wage rates will be available for second- and ...
March 4, 2024
Metro Transit
An existing Blue Line train in Minneapolis.
The Metro Transit Blue Line Extension will extend the existing Blue Line light rail 13.4 miles north, connecting communities in North Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn...
March 1, 2024
Metro Transit
The Metro Transit Gold Line BRT is currently under construction.
The new east metro bridge connects the cities of Oakdale and Woodbury and will have dedicated lanes for the Metro Gold Line bus rapid transit corridor, which is scheduled to ...
Nov. 28, 2023
Metro Transit
An existing Blue Line train in Minneapolis.
The funding will keep project work going through 2024, establishes a governance process for the project and identifies responsibilities between Hennepin County and the Metropolitan...
Sept. 15, 2023
Metropolitan Council
Met Council Vice Chair Reva Chamblis, right, welcomes speakers to an event at the Blue Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant announcing federal Climate Pollution Reduction grants. Other speakers included (left from the vice chair) Debra Shore, EPA Region 5 Administrator; U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rebecca Ann Crooks-Stratton, secretary/treasurer of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.
The EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction planning grants are designed to provide flexible support to states, metropolitan areas, tribes and territories in the climate planning and...
Sept. 5, 2023
Metropolitan Council
Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County have agreeded to funding agreement for the Green Line Extension Light Rail Transit Line.
The two entities have collaborated for several months to define funding sources and reach a resolution to close the remaining funding gap.
Aug. 22, 2023
The new division will provide a more consistent approach to complicated and critical infrastructure projects that are significant in size and complexity and have substantial financial...
April 25, 2023
Metropolitan Council
The Metropolitan Council conducted a study on the decline of Northstar rail ridership and operational challenges the agency faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The evaluation results of the project offer context for future decision making for transit service in the Northstar corridor.
March 15, 2023
Metropolitan Council
Ernest Morales III
Morales III joins the Metro Transit Police Department from New York, where he spent most of his career in the New York City Police Department, managing all levels of projects,...
Jan. 27, 2023
Metropolitan Council
Ceremonial groundbreakers: Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle, Washington County Commissioner Stan Karwoski, Washington County Commissioner Lisa Weik, U.S. Representative Betty McCollum, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Ramsey County Commissioner Rafael Ortega, Ramsey County Commissioner Trista MatasCastillo, Maplewood Council Member Nikki Villavicencio.
The bus rapid transit project will run along a 10-mile corridor and will begin service in 2025.
Oct. 21, 2022
Metro Transit
Fc Uh Ys G Xg Ayo2 Fn Metro Transit
Metro Transit micro is a partnership between the Metropolitan Council, Metro Transit and Transit Team, whose operators will provide the service under contract.
Sept. 12, 2022
Metro Transit
Ruby M. Daniels, Assistant Transportation Manager/Chair of Advancing Women in Transit, Metro Transit
Ruby M. Daniels, Assistant Transportation Manager/Chair of Advancing Women in Transit, Metro Transit
Aug. 23, 2022
Met Council
Christine Beckwith 190x230 Met Council
With more than 20 years of experience in transit and transportation, Christine Beckwith will help guide the future of the Blue Line Extension as it moves towards the start of ...
July 8, 2022
Metro Transit
An existing Blue Line train in Minneapolis. [Metro Transit]
The approved route modification will allow environmental, design, engineering and anti-displacement activities to continue.
June 23, 2022
This is the first official step in moving forward the route recommendation into environmental work and advancing design where further in-depth engagement and review will continue...
June 10, 2022
Met Council
Chief Frizell Met Council
The Metropolitan Council will launch a national search for his replacement.
May 9, 2022
Blue Line Extension
F Qooy Lo Xo A Yr39g Blue Line Ext Ttwitter
The project recommends extending the existing Blue Line light-rail transit from Target Field station along West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis to County Road 81 in Crystal and...
April 19, 2022
Metro Transit/ Development Trends Along Transit report
Metro Transit Development Report
The METRO Green Line has the region’s highest share of investments.
April 4, 2022
Met Council
Rendering of the METRO Gold Line station at Union Depot and Wacouta in downtown Saint Paul.
The Metropolitan Council (Met Council) announced the METRO Gold Line project has now formally applied for federal matching funds from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) ...
March 21, 2022
The workgroup aims to maximize community benefits and prevent displacement.
March 11, 2022
Met Council
Metro Transit and the Metro Transit Police Department will develop an action plan that includes goals, action steps and specific timelines for implementation.
Metro Transit staff were directed to develop a specific action plan by the end of June.
March 4, 2022
Met Council
Bus ridership increased during 2021, with biggest gains on bus rapid transit.
Regional transit ridership began to rebound in 2021, offering hope for Met Council officials.
Feb. 25, 2022
Met Council
Met Council Greent Line Rendering
The agreement and Met Council’s action establish a foundation for the projected opening day and total budget.
Jan. 28, 2022
Met Council
The redevelopment of the former Wells Fargo bank is near the Lake Street Station of the METRO Orange Line on I-35W, as well as the future METRO B Line on Lake Street.
The grants are part of the Met Council’s Livable Communities program, investing in communities to help them achieve their goals of economic prosperity, job creation, housing choices...
Jan. 27, 2022
Met Council
Metro Mobility At Library 500 Met Council
Online booking and new vehicle tracking capabilities help improve the customer experience.
Jan. 24, 2022
Members will help guide anti-displacement strategies and policy development by providing personal insight, local expertise and direct connections to communities impacted by the...
Dec. 21, 2021
Metro Transit
When the METRO Purple Line opens in 2026, it will join several BRT routes already in operation in the region including the METRO A Line.
The approval marks the transition of leadership for the 15-mile BRT project from Ramsey County to the Metropolitan Council.
Dec. 14, 2021
Met Council
Met Council
The approved plan built upon more than 2,500 community comments and coordination with cities and counties.
Oct. 18, 2021
Rush Line
Rendering of a possible station concept for the Purple Line.
Achievement of this major milestone helps to clear the way for the transfer of the project from Ramsey County to the Metropolitan Council in late 2021 or early 2022.
Oct. 15, 2021
Met Council
Met Council
Among the projects are an electric vehicle planning study and Metro Transit’s ongoing work to transition its fleet to electric vehicles.
Sept. 24, 2021
CURA will draw from years of study on gentrification and displacement in the northwest suburbs to generate a research report that will outline the needs found in the community...
Sept. 23, 2021
Met Council
Met Council
A recent report recommends implementing ideas from community and transit employees and continuing to engage those groups in an ongoing conversation about transit safety.
Sept. 20, 2021
Met Council
Participants in the survey also said that reliable on-time buses would help improve their feelings of safety
The Met Council has taken several steps with community partners and stakeholders to improve the feeling of safety and security while riding the transit system.
Aug. 26, 2021
Metropolitan Council
The first rail for the Southwest LRT project was installed near the future downtown Hopkins station. The project will extend the METRO Green Line from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, Minn.
The rail was installed near the future Downtown Hopkins Station on the future Green Line extension that will connect Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.
Aug. 16, 2021
Met Council
New funding for bus rapid transit development will advance the METRO E Line on Hennepin and France avenues and the METRO F Line in the Central Avenue corridor in Minneapolis.
Legislators established Metro Mobility as a forecasted program in the state budget beginning in 2025 and BRT projects received a one-time $57.5-million appropriation.
July 28, 2021
Met Council
Metro Transit Police Chief Eddie Frizell speaking at a press conference about the new initiatives.
The initiatives amount to more than $4 million in annual investment and are the next steps in an evolution of investments started two years ago.
July 19, 2021
Met Council
Met Council
The plan both improves local bus service and creates reliable connections to the Orange Line.
May 25, 2021
Met Council
Met Council
Met Council and Citizens League have partnered to engage customers and communities to help the council understand how it can improve safety.
May 24, 2021
This commits the Met Council to important actions and measures that will move the organization more intentionally toward a more equitable region.
April 21, 2021
Met Council/Metro Transit
Rendering of future GOLD BRT Line.
The BRT project, which will connect five East Metro cities, moves forward with approval from FTA.
April 15, 2021
This new service will improve and expand equitable access by providing fast, frequent and all-day service on the Route 5 corridor, Metro Transit’s busiest bus route.
March 25, 2021
Metro Transit
A Blue Line train in Minneapolis.
Original plans for the light-rail project were scrapped last August following resistance from a potential freight rail owner, but officials vowed to find an alternative route ...
March 12, 2021
Met Council
Met Council will consider adding 3 more BRT lines.
Following months of analysis and community engagement, Metro Transit finalized recommendations for the next three BRT alignments that will become the METRO F, G, and H lines.
Feb. 26, 2021
Met Council
Funding has been set aside for a new BRT corridor.
The Transportation Advisory Board selected 56 projects for funding including highway, bridge, transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects in 36 different cities and townships.
Jan. 29, 2021
Met Council
Four new connecting bus routes to the Orange Line are proposed to be added.
Feedback will inform and help finalize the bus service changes that go into effect at the end of the year when the Orange Line opens to customers.
Jan. 27, 2021
Metropolitan Council
A rendering of the future West Lake Station on the Southwest LRT route.
Over the course of the 2020 construction season, the project staff and contractor, Lunda-McCrossan Joint Venture, encountered unforeseen conditions in the Minneapolis segment ...
Jan. 19, 2021
Metropolitan Council
The blue ribbon committee shares its recommendations.
The committee also recommended that state law be changed to stagger the appointment of council members.
Dec. 29, 2020
Met Council
Regular riders started returning to Metro Mobility and Transit Link in July.
The council says its staff as gone the extra mile over the past nine months in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Dec. 16, 2020
Met Council says working with communities of color and low-income communities when making transportation investment decisions is emphasized in the updated plan.
The 2020 update to the plan addresses trends that have emerged since the plan was last updated in 2018.
Nov. 24, 2020
Metropolitan Council
Expansion and renovation of the Minneapolis American Indian Center will strengthen its ability to serve as a gathering place for the Native community.
The grant awards help make it possible for people to live near transit services that help them get to jobs, school, appointments, shopping and other destinations.
Oct. 15, 2020
Metropolitan Council
Existing Metro Transit Blue Line
The planned extension of Metro Transit’s Blue Line is regrouping after plans for its original alignment fell apart this summer.
Oct. 12, 2020
Mischa Wanek-Libman/Mass Transit
File photo showing a METRO Green Line train in downtown Minneapolis.
The 14.5-mile light-rail extension began construction in late 2018 and is expected to open for service in 2023.
Aug. 6, 2020
Metro Transit
Existing METRO Blue Line in downtown Minneapolis.
The light-rail project’s stakeholders expressed disappointment in shelving the plans to build on BNSF right-of-way, but are committed to finding a way forward to deliver the project...
Aug. 4, 2020
Met Council
Digital leveler shows the slope of an access approaching the 38th Street light-rail station violates ADA standards.
The actions grow out of a comprehensive evaluation conducted last year, as well as a follow-up plan the Met Council developed in early 2020.
July 22, 2020
Met Council
The study looks at transit service throughout the region. Pictured is a Minnesota Valley Transit Authority Route 384 bus serving Eagan and Apple Valley.
The study has already reviewed existing conditions, completed community outreach and conducted a workshop with community stakeholders.
July 21, 2020
Met Council
Met Council Workers pour concrete on the bridge where the Lake Street Station of the Orange Line will be built.
Construction of the transitway and all stations is expected to be complete by 2021, with passenger service anticipated to start at the end of the same year.
June 25, 2020
Metropolitan Council
Met Council
The new on-demand service will provide solo or small group rides to and from work.
April 14, 2020
The council is considering including ride-hailing services as an alternative to Metro Mobility's on-demand taxi service.
March 9, 2020
Metropolitan Council
Metropolitan Council
The Green Line, which connects Minneapolis to St. Paul, has also set a ridership record, providing more than 14.2 million rides in 2019.
March 6, 2020
Metropolitan Council Twitter
Metropolitan Council Chair Charlie Zelle announces plans to improve safety on Metro Transit system.
New safety efforts include authorizing more hours for police to increase their presence on the system and requesting a transit ambassador program to address fare evasion.
Feb. 13, 2020
Metropolitan Council
Crews complete waterproofing and roofing for the temporary bus shelter at SouthWest Station.
The project will construct 16 new stations and plans to open for service in 2023.
Jan. 23, 2020
The new projects will be included in the State Transportation Investment Program and forwarded to USDOT.
Sept. 26, 2019
Metropolitan Council
The SouthWest Station will be the western terminus of the METRO Green Line Extension.
The $194.4 million systems contract includes construction and installation of equipment such as overhead catenary lines, traction power and communication systems.
Sept. 19, 2019
Metropolitan Council
Mt Police Chief Frizell
The Metro Transit Police Department has selected a Minneapolis, Minn. police officer as its next chief of police. Police Inspector Eddie Frizell, who brings decades of experience...
July 15, 2019
Local governments will compete this year for approximately $200 million in federal funds for local highway, bridge, transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects. The federal funds...
March 21, 2018
Met Council
Alene Tchourumoff.
New Metropolitan Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff kicked off a 7-County Tour this week, in her effort to foster deeper partnerships with regional leaders.
Aug. 14, 2017
Metropolitan Council
Bus service impacts.
The Metropolitan Council has provided additional information about the impacts of the House Transportation Omnibus Bill (HF 861).
April 24, 2017
This would be the first fare increase in nearly a decade (last increase was in October 2008) and a necessary step to address the increasing costs to providing transit and transportation...
April 17, 2017
The Metropolitan Council Chair Adam Duininck, transit advocates, business groups, and local officials have urged the House leadership to withdraw their proposed legislation and...
March 27, 2017
Metropolitan Council
Recent changes in Twin Cities regions area of concentrated poverty.
Since 2014, Metropolitan Council research staff have tracked trends and geographic patterns of poverty in the Twin Cities region — in particular, con­centrated poverty, which ...
March 3, 2017
The project to build a light rail line connecting the suburbs northwest of Minneapolis to downtown cleared a major hurdle. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave the Blue...
Jan. 20, 2017
The Metropolitan Council chose Siemens on Wednesday to manufacture new light rail vehicles for the Southwest LRT Project (SWLRT), which will expand access to more than 200,000...
Oct. 31, 2016
Metropolitan Council
The shading on this map shows employment concentrations along the proposed Southwest LRT line and regional destinations on existing METRO Green and Blue Lines and planned Blue Line Extension.
A reverse commuter from northeast Minneapolis who works at one of the largest employers in Minnesota, the CEO of a family-owned company, a senior housing official and a pizza ...
May 5, 2016
The Metro Blue Line Extension LRT Project is one step closer to becoming a reality after gaining approval for municipal consent.
March 7, 2016