Council NEWS & EVENTS

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.

Officials hold joyous groundbreaking for Southwest light rail project

After almost 20 years of planning, the groundbreaking marks the work of partnerships with federal, county and local governments and organizations and members of the communities all along the line.

Council recognized for leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation

The Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP) awarded the Council for efforts to help the region adapt to climate change.

Sewer Availability Charge for industries will change in January

Industrial customers of the Council’s wastewater treatment services will have another option to pay SAC for their process wastewater flows.

Metropolitan Council approves $2.5 million in grants to support affordable housing

Grants will help create and preserve more than 250 affordable homes and leverage $82 million in other public and private investment.

Council wastewater rates are very competitive

In 2016, households in the Twin Cities paid about $274 per year for wastewater collection and treatment service. That’s 41% less than households in our peer regions across the country.

Regional sanitary sewer project works around a Saint Paul eagle nest

Work on the Beltline Interceptor Sewer is covered under a special federal permit for construction taking place near an eagle nest.

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.

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.

Public Hearing on an Amendment to the 2040 Transportation Policy Plan

A public hearing will be held Jan. 9, 2019 on an amendment to add the Riverview Modern Streetcar transitway project to the Current Revenue Scenario.

Comment on Housing Goals for Livable Communities Housing Incentives Account Program

The Council held a public hearing to receive comment on affordable and life-cycle housing goals with new municipalities electing to participate in the metropolitan Livable Communities Housing Incentives Account Program. Comments may be made in writing or by phone prior to 5 p.m. on Dec. 17.

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.