Council NEWS & EVENTS

FTA releases full funding for Orange Line BRT

Receipt of grant keeps project on schedule to move ahead with next phase of construction.

Visits to regional parks hit all-time high

Regional parks in the metro area got nearly 60 million visits in 2018, an increase of 2.6 percent over the previous year and the most visits of any year on record.

Council grants get things rolling on planned development in four metro area cities

The Metropolitan Council, on June 12, approved Livable Communities grants to set the stage for planned development in Brooklyn Center, Hopkins, Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Construction to start this summer on Minnehaha Park Area Sewer Improvement Project

The aging regional sanitary sewer tunnel is under Minnehaha Creek near East Minnehaha Parkway.

Park Plaza Cooperative: A resident-owned manufactured home park

One community's answer to affordable housing.

Council announces finalists for Metro Transit Police chief

Council leadership has narrowed the field of candidates to two finalists before Thursday’s public event as part of the interview process to hire for the position of Metro Transit Police chief.

Council, Minneapolis, St. Paul housing waiting lists open through June 18 at noon

The waiting lists are now closed.

Southwest LRT project creates job, business opportunities

The largest public works project in Minnesota’s history is expected to generate 7,500 jobs and $350 million in payroll.

Gov. Walz brokers budget deal that improves the lives of all Minnesotans

Compromise includes funding for transit, regional parks, and water supply.

College students help guide Council’s landscaping, water quality work

A partnership between the University of St. Thomas and the Met Council is benefitting students and the natural environment. The work may, in some cases, result in long-term savings.

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.

Public meeting on Draft 2020-23 Transportation Improvement Program

The program includes highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects proposed in the Twin Cities metropolitan area in the next four years.

Public meeting on Draft 2020-23 Transportation Improvement Program

The program includes highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects proposed in the Twin Cities metropolitan area in the next four years.

Provide feedback on Metro Transit police chief interviews

A public interview session was held June 13. Take a survey to provide input by June 20.

Upcoming Council and Committee meetings

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

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.