Messages from the Council Chair

As I step down from my role as Metropolitan Council Chair this month, I find myself reflecting on an extraordinary tenure that has fundamentally reshaped not only our organization, but our entire region's future.

What I'm most proud of is how we've positioned our region for the future. When I started, we had the Blue and Green light rail lines operational, along with the A Line, the region’s first arterial bus rapid transit, and the Red Line, highway bus rapid transit. Today, we have the new B, C, and D lines, plus the Orange and Gold lines in operation. In the near future, we'll be opening the E Line, Green Line Extension, and multiple additional bus rapid transit lines currently under various stages of planning and development.

What was once just an aspirational thought is now a detailed, funded reality—a robust and integrated public transportation system. Beyond transit, we've developed robust plans and policies for our wastewater system, parks and trails, and development through Imagine 2050, the new regional development guide.

These achievements reflect something deeper about how we work together. The Met Council occupies a special place, collaborating with 181 mayors and township board chairs, numerous county commissioners, state agencies, and the federal government to deploy public resources responsibly. Our Council members represent incredible diversity geographically and through their lived experiences—a tremendous strength that allows us to have robust conversations and debates while ultimately coming together as a region, not for individual interests.

This collaborative approach has given me a profound appreciation for the people who make it all work. After 13 years in government, I've discovered firsthand the remarkable integrity, talent, and vision of public servants—qualities that are so often unappreciated. I've walked through wastewater treatment plants, Green Line tunnels, and bus maintenance shops, witnessing complexity and dedication that most citizens drive by without fully appreciating. From track maintenance workers to attorneys to planners to engineers, every person in this organization plays an important role in people's lives.

These infrastructure investments and public services truly set up success for people's lives—both business and personal. Sometimes communities simply cannot thrive without the connective tissue that only government can provide.

As I prepare to leave, I feel confident about the foundational elements we've put in place. This wasn't a turnaround or a revolution—it was an evolution built on existing strengths while filling critical gaps. The vision of a robust, integrated regional transportation and infrastructure system is no longer aspirational—it's real, funded, and under construction. Most importantly, we've demonstrated that government can be effective, visionary, and responsive to citizen needs. In an era when public institutions face skepticism, that's perhaps the most important legacy of all.

To my successor and the regional partners who will carry this work forward: you have something remarkable to build upon. The foundation is solid, the vision is clear, and the people are extraordinary. Keep building from the inside out, stay true to the region's values, and never forget that the work you do truly matters in people's daily lives.

Charlie Zelle, Met Council Chair