Council NEWS & EVENTS

Council grants help park agencies purchase land

On Sept. 12, the Metropolitan Council awarded close to $1.7 million to Washington County and the Three Rivers Park District to buy land for regional parks and trails.

Transportation projects being scored for federal funding

The 2018 Regional Solicitation brought in 136 applications that will vie for around $200 million in federal funding. Technical experts from across the region are reviewing and scoring applications.

Sewer separation, inflow and infiltration reduction efforts are paying off

The Metropolitan Council and City of Minneapolis have reached another milestone in joint efforts to protect public health and water quality. 

Hopkins area sewer improvements: onward and upward

The renewed wastewater infrastructure will reliably protect public health and the environment—and support the region’s economic growth—for decades to come.

Council’s new Parks Ambassador hopes to ‘bring parks to the people’

After meeting with regional parks leaders and park implementing agency staff, she'll work with community members and park staff to gather input about what people want and need in our regional parks.

Council sets 2019 wastewater rates; SAC rate stays flat for fifth year running

The overall municipal wastewater charge to the 109 communities served by the Metropolitan Council’s regional wastewater collection and treatment system will go up 3.5% in 2019.

Parties reach agreement to advance Southwest LRT

The agreements with the Twin Cities & Western Railroad Company will now be considered by the Surface Transportation Board, a federal regulatory agency. 

National advocates unite to address serious water challenges

Council collaborates with partners to ensure plentiful, clean water for all.

Council adds $5 million to Municipal I/I Grant Program

The additional funding is good news for the 79 communities in the region eligible for municipal inflow and infiltration grants:

Council offers $500,000 for local project to reduce inflow and infiltration from private property

Local communities are invited to apply for up to $500,000 to demonstrate effective ways of reducing inflow and infiltration into the regional wastewater system from private property sources.

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. 

Metropolitan Council names new Director of Equal Opportunity

Cyrenthia Jordan is the new Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity at the Metropolitan Council. Jordan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role.

2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan Update released for public comment

Attend a public hearing Monday, Sept. 17; comment on the draft plan by Thursday, Sept. 27.

Region’s third rapid bus line approved to begin design and engineering

D Line would replace region’s highest ridership bus route; still needs $35 million to construct entire project

Metro Mobility Fall 2018 Community Conversation is Wednesday, Oct. 24

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

Comment on Regional Parks Policy Plan by Sept. 27

We want to hear your comments on the Regional Parks Policy Plan. The public comment period runs from July 25 – Sept. 27, 2018.

Upcoming Council and Committee meetings

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

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.

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.