Council NEWS & EVENTS

Report: Region has likely lost more affordable housing than it produced since 2011

A new Met Council Research report says the seven-county area is losing ground when it comes to meeting the housing needs of working families.

Slawik sworn in as Metropolitan Council Chair

“I am very familiar with the good work of the Council and its importance to our region. That’s one of the reasons that I accepted this position – I believe in the mission and work of the Council.”

Council awards grants supporting jobs, housing and economic development

A majority of these grants will help clean up contaminated sites for future development; one grant was awarded for contamination investigation.

New Chaska Lift Station means more wastewater pumping capacity

Over the last three years, MCES built a new, larger wastewater lift station that blended in so well with the surrounding community that its mission stumped even some local residents.

Harrington to lead Dept. of Public Safety

After seven years leading the Metro Transit Police Department, John Harrington has stepped down as Police Chief to take on a new role with the state.

Council opens new web portal for SAC determinations

The portal makes it easier to submit information and materials for a sewer availability charge (SAC) determination

Council approves update to 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan

The update focuses on stewardship of the Regional Parks System and maintaining or enhancing the system, one of the region’s most popular features.

Growth in northwest metro prompts wastewater investment

Following a public hearing in January and Council review and approval in February, the Council would acquire the new Crow River wastewater treatment plant in Rogers, to launch in 2030.

Council advances proposed wastewater reuse facility for southeast metro

The Council will provide reclaimed water to Enerkem’s proposed waste-to-biofuels facility in Dakota County.

Council grants promote economic development and housing opportunities

Nearly 850 new homes and more than 1,100 jobs will result from $9.6 million in Livable Communities grants.

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. 

Transit leaders break ground on $25 million renovation to Mall of America transit center

Upgrades to state's busiest transit hub will provide safer, more efficient experience for thousands of daily customers

Groundbreaking to mark start of Mall of America Transit Center improvement project

All bus operations will be moved to the east side of the light rail tracks, creating a safer and more efficient operation, along with improved lighting, signage and a new façade. 

Metro Mobility Spring 2019 Community Conversation

Metro Mobility staff warmly invite you to provide feedback on our service.

Public hearing on a 2040 Transportation Policy Plan Amendment

Amendment extends the METRO Gold Line alignment to a new station in Woodbury and adds lanes along I-94 in Northwest Hennepin County from Dayton Parkway to Trunk Highway (TH) 101.

Workshop to develop metro-targeted drinking water source protection guidance

The Metropolitan Council will hold a workshop on March 21 to kick off the first step in a project to develop metro-targeted drinking water source protection guidance.

Upcoming Council and Committee meetings

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

Can manufactured homes help the housing crisis?

FastCompany.com

Tiny houses get all the attention, but mobile homes–despite the stigma–are already a huge part of the country’s housing, and could have a bigger part to play. 

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.