Council NEWS & EVENTS

Regional forecast: Household growth revised downward; population growth expected to slow

The Twin Cities region will gain 803,000 residents between 2010 and 2040, bringing the region’s population to 3,653,000.

Council grants aim to increase residential water efficiency

Residents of 40 cities and townships will be eligible for rebates to purchase water-efficient toilets, clothes washers, irrigation controllers, and irrigation spray heads over the next three years.

Council awards $1.4 million to promote affordable homes near transit

The grants support moderate- to high-density development near transit that is more affordable and walkable, fosters mobility, and encourages transit ridership.

Public comment period for draft Public Transit and Human Services Transportation Coordinated Plan

The plan supports coordination of transportation services between transit providers and human service agencies that serve people who have a disability, older adults, and people who have low incomes.

Growing cities meet regional density targets

The Council’s net residential density target is a minimum of 3 units per acre for cities and townships designated as either suburban edge, emerging suburban edge, or rural center.

Council Chair Nora Slawik Resigns

Resignation comes with desire to focus on her health.

Cities, Met Council advance solar energy development

Local governments and the Metropolitan Council have expanded the region’s solar capacity by an estimated 50 megawatts since 2015.

Met Council awards stormwater grants to local governments

The grants will support projects at redevelopment sites.

Council approves minimum rent, inspection changes for housing voucher program

Charging a minimum rent is one step toward addressing a Metro HRA operating deficit. In addition, the change will prevent the agency from having to further reduce the number of households it serves.

Metro-area transportation projects advance for federal funding consideration

The region’s $3.5 billion Transportation Improvement Program is a collection of hundreds of local highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects in the queue for federal consideration.

Metropolitan Council awards systems contract for Southwest LRT

Aldridge-Parsons Joint Venture is experienced working on LRT corridors, having performed the systems work on Central Corridor LRT (METRO Green Line).

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.

Upcoming Council and Committee meetings

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

Public Hearing on Housing Goals for Livable Communities Housing Incentives Account Program through 2020

We're receiving public comment on affordable and life-cycle housing goals with new municipalities electing to participate in the metropolitan Livable Communities Housing Incentives Account Program for the period 2011 to 2020.

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.

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.