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In this Issue
Since 2005, our region
has experienced a 23% increase in transit ridership and our customers’ desire
for more options and types of transit continues to grow. In addition to
Metro Transit’s robust local and express bus service – which includes more than
125 different routes – we are currently building out the METRO system, which is
a network of transitways with frequent, all-day service between stations with
enhanced amenities. District 15 is home to the METRO Red Line and will also be
served by the future METRO Orange Line that will run down the I-35W corridor.
Both lines are Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Lines, which provide high quality, reliable service like
light rail transit, but are less expensive to build and allow for a more
flexible route.
The METRO Red Line has been in service since 2013 and serves Apple Valley,
Burnsville, Eagan, and Bloomington along Cedar Avenue. This line connects south
metro riders to the METRO Blue Line at the Mall of America and other key
destinations along the corridor. The corridor continues to show promise in
ridership and in June, I was able to speak at the new Cedar Grove Station
opening in Eagan. The new station is in the middle of Highway 77 and means the
bus no longer must leave the highway to access the Cedar Grove Station –
speeding up travel times.
Although the 2017 legislative session was not without its difficulties,
funding for the METRO Orange Line was approved by the legislature and the
governor – securing the final local dollars for the project. I-35W is already
Minnesota’s busiest commuter corridor, with 26 express bus routes that carry more
than 14,000 daily bus riders. This line will be the region’s first highway BRT
project and will have competitive running times for station-to-station trips.
It also offers a new option for reverse-commuters (riders traveling from urban
areas to suburban destinations). The project has received a favorable rating
from the federal government and is well positioned to receive federal matching
dollars to compliment the $76.6 million in local and state funding it has
already secured. The METRO Orange Line will be a welcome addition to the
high-quality transit already serving District 15 and the southern suburbs.
The Council continues to look for ways to provide transit service to
communities in the most efficient and sustainable ways possible. One size does
not fit all when it comes to service and not all communities are well suited
for light rail. By making smart investments that demonstrate good fiscal
stewardship while also enhancing the transit experience of our customers, we
can continue to improve mobility and opportunity across the Twin Cities region.
Learn more about the growing METRO system –
including the METRO Red and Orange lines.
Two spots are open on
the Council’s Equity Advisory Committee, which advises the Metropolitan Council
in its work to advance equity in the metropolitan region. In forming
the Equity Advisory Committee (EAC) in October
2015, the Metropolitan Council affirmed its commitment in Thrive MSP
2040 to ensure that residents and communities are full partners in making
the decisions that affect them.
The committee has 21 members – including
members of the community and the Metropolitan Council. There are eight district
representatives and nine at-large members. The Co-chairs include one member of
the Metropolitan Council and one community representative. Members serve
four-year terms.
Open seats
- District H – the southern three-quarters of Dakota
County and southeastern Scott County (Council Districts 15 and 16), to
fill out the remainder of the term which expires in January 2020.
- One at-large member, to fill out the remainder of the
term, which expires in January 2018.
The deadline to apply is Monday, July 31.
To apply, download the EAC Application & Supplement (pdf).
(Some committees may also require applicants to answer supplemental questions.)
For more information, or to submit your application, contact the
Appointments Coordinator by email,
U.S. mail or phone: 390 Robert St. N., St. Paul, 55101 or 651-602-1806.
Visit our website for a full list of advisory committee
vacancies region-wide.
The Metropolitan Council’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Metro HRA, will open its waiting list for 150 available units specifically for families through its Family Affordable Housing Program. Eligible families can apply from Aug. 1 through Aug. 4.
The Metro HRA offers single family homes, duplexes and townhomes throughout suburban Hennepin, suburban Ramsey, and Anoka counties. Housing units include two, three, four, and five bedroom choices.
Read the entire notice here.
Apply Tuesday Aug. 1 through noon Friday Aug. 4
METRO HRA will accept online applications ONLY from Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 8 a.m. through noon, Friday, Aug. 4.
Learn more about the METRO HRA and its role administering federal housing programs.
The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the seven-county Twin Cities metro area. It runs the regional bus and light rail system, and Northstar Commuter rail. The Council collects and treats wastewater, manages regional water resources, plans regional parks, and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The Council is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the governor.
Every e-newsletter, I
will ask a Council trivia question and the first two people who email the
correct answer, I'll treat them to coffee at their time
and place of choice in the district.
Trivia question: What are the four types of Livable Communities Act (LCA) grants the Council distributes to help build or maintain our regions housing supply?
Email answers to steven.chávez@metc.state.mn.us.
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