Council NEWS & EVENTS

Parks study to focus on youth

Youth-serving nonprofit organizations are invited to apply to collaborate on the project and will be compensated for their work.

Metro HRA considers minimum rent requirement, biennial inspections, measures related to homelessness

The 5-year plan identifies key goals that the agency will be working to achieve during the next several years.

Council awards grants to acquire property for regional parks and trails

The abundance of places to enjoy the outdoors and recreate contributes to livability in the Twin Cities and our health and well-being.

Regional and local planning go hand-in-hand

Local comprehensive plans reflect the vision of metro area cities and townships. The Met Council reviews the plans to ensure planned growth is compatible with regional infrastructure investment.

Vintage sandstone tunnel makes for challenging sewer cleaning project

An Environmental Services regional interceptor cleaning project has been an interesting mix of technology, geology, and sewer design and construction dating back to the mid-1930s.

Soccer stadium features innovative rainwater reuse system

The new rainwater reuse system is expected to recycle more than 2 million gallons of rainwater every year.

Tax-base sharing supports more orderly development and improves equity

After more than 40 years, the region’s Fiscal Disparities program continues to support orderly and efficient development, equity, and economic competitiveness of the Twin Cities area.

Former mayor connects the dots between where people work and where they live

Mike Webb learned, firsthand, the need for homes that are affordable to working people.

Council approves 2020 wastewater rates

The municipal wastewater charge will rise 3.6% overall, although any given city or town’s charge will vary based on its flow relative to total regional flow volume.

Council awards $3 million to local projects promoting jobs, economic development

The grants are part of the Council’s Livable Communities program, a voluntary, incentive-based approach to helping communities achieve their regional and local goals.

Commuters, business leaders and local elected officials speak out for enhanced transit

At a busy park-and-ride in the west metro, leaders say investments in transit will strengthen Twin Cities and entire state.

Governor Walz announces intention to appoint Metropolitan Council members

Under the Walz-Flanagan Administration, the Met Council will be most diverse to ever serve, reflecting a commitment to increased community engagement.

Transit lines grow ridership, investments lead the way

METRO Green Line, METRO Blue Line and A Line each set annual ridership records, while demand for Metro Mobility continues to climb.

Council chair announces leadership changes

Focus on tackling the challenges facing regional transit, housing, equity, and investments in the region's planning and infrastructure that contribute to its economic vitality and competitiveness.

Walz and Flanagan announce Met Council Nominating Committee

Applicants selected to be interviewed by the committee will testify at one of four public meetings: Jan. 29, Jan. 30, Feb. 12 or Feb. 13.

Maplewood mayor named to lead Council

Maplewood Mayor Nora Slawik, who has been involved in local and state politics, transit planning and several area nonprofits, will begin in her new role in January.

Council grants help cities plan for development around future transit lines

Nearly half a million dollars in grants will help local communities plan for development around future transit lines and for other predevelopment activities.

Federal, state and local officials break ground on Southwest LRT

After more than two decades of planning, state’s largest infrastructure project is moving into construction.

FTA announces full federal funding of Orange Line BRT

$72 million in federal funding means transit project is fully funded.

Lunda/McCrossan chosen to build Southwest LRT

Council awards civil construction contract, setting stage to break ground on Southwest LRT.

Upcoming Council and Committee meetings

The Council and its committees meet regularly most months.  Find information on all upcoming Council and Committee meetings.   

Water Efficiency Grant Program Informational Meeting

Staff will provide an overview of the grant program and be available to answer applicant questions.

Comment on proposed Public Housing Agency Plan Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Metropolitan Council’s Community Development Committee is receiving public comment on the proposed 2020-2024 Public Housing Agency (PHA) Five Year Plan and 2020 Annual Plan.

Local grants for cleaning contamination and building a better community

Learn about local public grant programs that assist with the cost of cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated sites and tour a former brownfield site.

Comment on Draft Transportation Unified Planning Work Program

The program outlines and documents the proposed transportation-related planning activities in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area for the upcoming year. Submit your comments by Sept. 9.

Afraid of losing federal funding, more suburbs plan to comply with ADA

Star Tribune

At the federal government’s behest, the Met Council Transportation Advisory Board has stipulated that any city vying for funding must have a plan to make streets, sidewalks and intersections easier.

Train to somewhere: Delays done, Southwest light rail rolls forward

Minnesota Public Radio

MPR News looks back at the November groundbreaking ceremony for the Southwest LRT route. Construction begins this winter.

Twin Cities area needs new strategy on affordable housing

Star Tribune

Editorial Board: Region ranked second only to Pittsburgh in key housing-cost measure. 

'More popular than the mall': Met Council count shows our love for parks remains strong

Star Tribune

New trail segments help boost regional park visits to 58.3 million in 2017. 

Facelift underway for Mall of America transit station State's busiest hub to get $25 million upgrade, first big change in 25 years.

Star Tribune

State's busiest hub to get $25 million upgrade, first big change in 25 years.

Key light-rail leader Mark Fuhrmann to retire from Metro Transit Fuhrmann guided major Twin Cities transit projects for Metro Transit.

Star Tribune

Fuhrmann guided major Twin Cities transit projects for Metro Transit.

Bringing parks to people: A Q&A with new Regional Parks Ambassador Amanda Lovelee

MinnPost

Lovelee is an artist with a history of thinking about unique ways to spur civic engagement. In her new position, she is tasked with, in her own words “bringing parks to people."

Gold Line planners seek feedback at open house

Bulletin-South Washington Councy

The Metropolitan Council hosted the first of a series of open houses intended to gather community comment on the nine-mile, round-trip route that will run from St. Paul to Woodbury.

Study finds transit access to jobs rises, thanks to A-Line

Star Tribune

Twin Cities transit riders can reach more than 18,000 jobs within a half-hour when traveling by bus or train, up 7 percent between 2016 and 2017, according to study results released by the U of M.

Twin Cities metro shows significant improvement in access to jobs by transit according to annual U of M study

University of Minnesota

Overall, workers in the metro can reach an average of 7.0 percent more jobs by transit than a year ago, the 9th highest change in transit accessibility among the metropolitan areas we analyzed.