Why We Matter

Fostering a prosperous region

The educated, mobile workforce of the future can choose to live anywhere. Successful regions attract skilled workers by providing a high quality of life: a healthy environment, clean water, convenient transit options, parks for recreation and exercise, and housing options.

The Twin Cities region is a great place to live, work, raise a family, and do business. We aim to keep it that way, and we continue to improve it.

Our work enhances our quality of life and economic competitiveness:

Transportation

Our Metro Transit bus and rail systems get people to work, school and services, and help reduce road congestion so businesses can move their goods efficiently.
Our Metro Mobility and Transit Link services transport people unable to use regular-route transit.
We partner with communities to plan for effective and cost-efficient investments in roads and transit, ensuring that residents have transportation that connects them to opportunities.

Clean water and wastewater treatment

We’re fostering a safe and healthy environment through our award-winning and cost-effective wastewater treatment services, water supply planning, and water quality monitoring initiatives.

Planning and development

Our Livable Communities grants clean polluted land for redevelopment, and create new models for transit-oriented development, stimulating and leveraging private investment and increasing communities’ tax base.
We coordinate local communities’ land use plans, providing technical assistance and resources, to ensure coordinated, orderly and efficient development in the region.

Parks

We plan and acquire land for regional parks, providing enviable recreational opportunities and open space throughout the region.

Housing

Our Housing Policy Plan identifies regional housing needs and priorities, connects housing to other Council system plans, and provides guidance for local housing planning.
Our Metro HRA provides affordable housing for 7,200 households with low incomes in nearly 100 communities.