Council NEWS & EVENTS

Castles and owls and sledding, oh my!

Regional parks offer fun winter options for every age and interest, from Ice Castles to the Art Shanty Project to cross-country skiing, sledding, skating, and much more.

Council commits $1 million to reduce homelessness

The Metropolitan Council has committed 1 million dollars to a new winter homeless initiative announced by Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan on Dec. 19.
 

New projects add housing, demonstrate connected land uses

A $6.5 million investment will support six cities to create development that links housing, jobs and services, and demonstrates cost-effective use of land and infrastructure.

Council grants aim to address equity in regional parks

The story of the region’s original people will be better told at three regional park facilities, thanks to grants we awarded in December.

Region meets air quality standards for carbon monoxide

More than 40 years of clean air policies and regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have improved air quality, safeguarding peoples’ health and sustaining the environment.

Council grants help create, preserve affordable housing

254 new affordable rental and ownership housing units will be built, and 48 existing units will be rehabilitated and preserved, with the support of $2.5 million in grants.

Public comment period for the proposed Metro Transit Police Department on use of body cameras

Comment on the proposed Metro Transit Police Department on use of body cameras by January 30, 2020.

Council receives loan to finance wastewater treatment capital improvement projects

Since 1990, Minnesota’s Clean Water Revolving Fund has awarded more than 565 loans for $3.1 billion, providing more than $691 million in interest savings to local governments and taxpayers.

A fresh beginning for a Twin Cities family

Metro Transit's Homeless Action Team connected Octavia and her son with our Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

Met Council is part of new Climate Change Subcabinet

The subcabinet is charged with “identifying policies and strategies that will put Minnesota back on track” to meet the goals of the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act.

Lunda/McCrossan chosen to build Southwest LRT

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

SWLRT gets critical approval from federal government to begin construction

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) cleared the path for construction to begin on the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project (SWLRT).

Metropolitan Council Chair to Step Down November 30

Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff will pursue a new professional opportunity. Vice Chair Harry Melander will assume the duties of the Chair in the Chair’s absence, until the end of the administration.

Metropolitan Council awards $4.5 million in grants to support affordable housing development

The grants are expected to support the creation of more than 650 housing units affordable to low- and very low-income residents and important connections to jobs and services.

Metropolitan Council launches major travel behavior survey

Thousands of households are expected to participate using smartphones — a first for the region.

Apprentice Program to help fill Metro Transit driver shortage

Metro Transit will participate in the Minnesota Apprenticeship initiative, which will bring on as many as 200 new employees in the coming years.

Council receives loan to finance wastewater treatment capital improvement projects

$45 million loan from the Minnesota Clean Water Revolving Fund will finance multiple wastewater treatment plant and interceptor sewer system capital improvement projects in 2018-2019.

New report shows population and household growth in the Twin Cities metro outpaces available housing

The Twin Cities is facing a critical housing shortage as the population increases. In addition to needing more housing supply, demographics are increasing the need for more diverse housing.

Fuhrmann leaves passenger rail legacy for generations to come

Leaders at Metro Transit and Metropolitan Council recognize Fuhrmann as the person responsible for the region’s 62 miles of passenger rail (40 miles for Northstar and 22 for LRT).

Met Council expands opportunities available to minority businesses

By expanding its criteria to include other certifications recognized by the State and other regional governments, the Council will increase the number of businesses it works with to 2,800. 

Upcoming Council and Committee meetings

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

Regional Solicitation workshop

Approximately $180 million in federal transportation funds are expected to be available for allocation in 2024 and 2025.

Public comment for the proposed Metro Transit Police Department on use of body cameras

Submit comments by 5 p.m. on January 30, 2020.

Regional Solicitation workshop

Approximately $180 million in federal transportation funds are expected to be available for allocation in 2024 and 2025.

Explaining the multifamily housing boom in the Twin Cities suburbs. (Yes, there is one.)

MinnPost

Increasingly, suburbs around the country are making room for a different kind of development: multi-family homes: Apartments, duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes.

St. Paul would get new wastewater incinerator under $150 million proposal

TwinCities.com Pioneer Press

As the metro grows, so does the amount of its poop. And that means a major wastewater plant along the Mississippi River in St. Paul needs to grow as well, to burn heavier volumes of solid waste.

Metro Transit works to provide commuters options in wake of construction

Star Tribune

Metro Transit increased service by 40 percent, with additional park-and-rides and expanded trip times, and partnered with the city and MnDOT on creating transit advantages, like bus-only lanes..

Met Council Partners with Xcel to Operate on 100 Percent Renewable Energy by 2040

KSTP-TV

Xcel Energy and the Metropolitan Council announced Friday a commitment to allow the council to operate on 100 percent renewable energy by 2040.

Lake Elmo neighbors are nearly 6 decades apart in age, but united in their care for a murky backyard pond

TwinCities.com Pioneer Press

The two are among 113 volunteers metrowide who check the health of lakes and rivers for the Metropolitan Council. They have become friends, in the process of befriending the pond.

The numbers don't lie: Twin Cities needs more housing

Star Tribune

Construction hit the average last year, but dwellings in the region are far below the projected population growth. 

Shortchange transit, shortchange growth

Star Tribune

Every world-class city has a world-class transit system, something peer regions like Seattle, Denver and even Dallas in deep-red Texas acknowledge as they invest more rapidly than the Twin Cities.
 

Minneapolis is growing at its fastest rate since 1950

MinnPost

Last week, Mayor Jacob Frey announced a goal to fund $50 million on housing projects in Minneapolis to address an affordable housing crisis in a city “growing faster that it has since 1950.”

Met Council explores treating, reusing wastewater in SE metro

MPRNews.org

The Metropolitan Council is asking the public to weigh in on a preliminary proposal to treat wastewater in the southeast Twin Cities metro area so it could be reused by a waste-to-biofuel plant.

St. Paul led seven-county metro in population growth in 2017

Star Tribune

Capital City beat Minneapolis for first time in a decade.