Transit System Studies and Reports

Northstar Rail Corridor Post-Pandemic Study

2023 Northstar Rail Corridor Post-Pandemic Study

The Met Council embarked on this study recognizing the Northstar ridership decline and operational challenges brought on and intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also builds on the work of previous Northstar studies.
Transit Service Allocation Study

2021 Transit Service Allocation Study

This project is studying regional transit’s competing roles of serving the largest geography possible and best serving the areas that generate the most ridership. The design of the transit system reflects regional values, and how transit fits into and supports the overall transportation system.
Transportation Coordination Action Plan

2020 Transportation Coordinated Plan

This action plan is intended to increase understanding of public transit and human service transportation coordination, identify opportunities for improvement, establish strategies for funding and prioritize needs and strategies.
Twin Cities Transit System Performance Evaluation

2019 Twin Cities Transit System Performance Evaluation

This review of the regional transit system includes a description of transit providers, performance statistics, a comparison to peer regions, a summary of capital investments, and a summary of transit's impacts on highways.
2012-2016 Regional Service Improvement Plan

2012-2016 Regional Service Improvement Plan

This plan identifies opportunities to improve transit service in the Twin Cities metropolitan area between 2012-2016 by expanding service coverage and increasing the frequency and span of service of the regular-route transit network.
Highway Transitway Corridor Study

2014 Highway Transitway Corridor Study

This 2014 study of eight highway corridors looked at the potential for Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in relatively high existing peak-hour, commuter transit demand.
Regional Transitway Guidelines

2012 Regional Transitway Guidelines

The 2012 guidelines were created to provide technical guidance based in best practices for developing transitways in corridors that will be served by commuter rail, light rail and bus rapid transit.
Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study

2012 Arterial Bus Rapid Transit Study

In 2011-2012, Metro Transit studied 11 urban corridors with high-ridership bus routes that connect major destinations for implementation of enhanced bus service.
Park and Rides

Park-and-Rides

The annual regional park-and-ride survey tracks facility use and emerging travel patterns by park-and-ride users across the Twin Cities region. Survey results are described in an annual park-and-ride system report and used to develop a long-range Park-and-Ride Plan.

Regional Route Performance Analysis

Each year the Metropolitan Council evaluates how transit service in the Twin Cities region performs compared to the performance standards adopted in the Transportation Policy Plan (TPP). The analysis includes transit services operated by the Met Council – Metro Transit, Metro Mobility, Transit Link and other contracted routes — and all suburban transit providers.​
Regional Transit Ridership

Regional Transit Ridership

We track transit ridership in the seven-county metro area each year.