In March 2022, the Metro Transit Police Work Group delivered its recommendations to the Metropolitan Council, directing Metro Transit to develop a detailed workplan by the end of June to address transit safety priorities.
The recommendations echo priorities cited by community members who participated in public engagement on the topic (PDF), as well as Metro Transit police and employee feedback.
- Provide a quality transit experience for all, using an anti-racist lens, equity lens, and an inclusive approach to transit safety, security, and policing
- Address systemic issues by fostering community relationships and partnerships
- Demonstrate responsive leadership and accountability for results
For each of these areas, the work group identified issues, high-level recommendations, and considerations that will serve as a framework for the next phase of this work. They also identified the following values that should guide safety and security work on the region’s transit system.
- Value safety and security on transit
- Ensure dignity, fairness, and justice for all
- Rebuild confidence in quality transit for all
- Value the broad diversity of the community
- Apply an equity lens and anti-racist lens to this work
- Better pair accountability and decision-making
- Include both external and internal stakeholder feedback
- Be responsive to feedback and follow public participation best practices
- Use a systems-level approach
- Ensure positive impacts and reduce negative impacts
- Consider efficient use of resources
- Recommendations should be realistic and doable
The work group results and recommendations reflected feedback from extensive community involvement facilitated in 2020-2021 by the Citizens League and the Twin Cities Innovation Alliance. That process engaged approximately 1,000 people who highlighted ways to improve conditions on the Twin Cities transit system and ways to address concerns about safety — including ways people of color and youth feel targeted by other riders and transit police. In addition, the work group heard from other community advocates, police personnel, and transit operators and other transit employees about their concerns.