From General Manager Wes Kooistra

This has been one of the most challenging years in our organization’s history. As I said in last week’s column, the worsening pandemic and looming budget challenges mean our difficulties won’t soon be behind us, either.

As hard as this year has been, though, it will also be remembered as a turning point in our region’s commitment to fast, frequent transit.

This commitment is embodied in the advancement of the Green Line Extension, the recent recipient of federal grant funding, and in an historic agreement to close budget gaps for our next two Bus Rapid Transit lines, the METRO D Line and METRO B Line. 

State funding approved by lawmakers last week means thousands of customers who ride our two busiest routes, routes 5 and 21, will soon enjoy faster service, better stations and modern buses. (The D Line will substantially replace Route 5 and the B Line will substantially replace Route 21.)

The importance of these investments has long been apparent. Around 1 in 4 households along the D Line and B Line do not have access to a vehicle. Around 40% of the nearly 130,000 people who can walk or roll to future station locations within 10 minutes qualify as low-income.

Today, these lines also have the potential to support recovery efforts along Lake Street, Chicago Avenue and in other areas that suffered widespread damage during this summer’s civil unrest.

As we finalize our plans and look forward to starting D Line construction next spring, I want to thank Gov. Tim Walz for including this funding in his bonding proposal and the legislature for recognizing the value of these projects. And I also want to thank all the staff who have put so much work into these projects.

In particular, I’d like to thank our BRT Projects department and other Council staff who have spent years testifying at the Capitol, leading tours and collecting feedback from riders, residents and community leaders.

The coalition that emerged from this work was essential to securing funding and will continue to be important as we work to further build out our BRT network.

I also want to thank staff from across the organization who are already working to ensure the D Line and B Line become as successful as their predecessors. As we have seen from the A Line and C Line, these projects are true team efforts.

As past experience shows, these BRT lines will be key to rebuilding our ridership as we recover from the pandemic. When the D and B lines open in a few years, around 20% of our local bus ridership will occur on arterial BRT lines.

While these investments are encouraging, we must move forward with eyes wide open.

Our operating budget is in flux as tax and fare revenues suffer amid the pandemic. New stations, buses and fare equipment mean there will be more to maintain. And it remains hard to tell when those who are riding less or not at all will come back to transit.

We must accept and work through these challenges knowing the D Line and B Line will make real differences in the lives of our riders, and that transit is an essential part of addressing other important issues, like the climate crisis and inequality.

Thank you again to all those who are supporting this important work. I look forward to celebrating with you all on opening day.

Read Council Chair Charlie Zelle's message on the bonding bill

Learn more about other Council efforts included in the bonding bill

Every Friday, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in the previous week (ending Tuesday) will be reported in Insights. Managers and supervisors are encouraged to post this information at work sites.

Remember, Metro Transit employees can access free COVID-19 tests at HealthPartners and Park Nicollet drive-up sites, and at the HealthPartners Well@Work Clinic at the Heywood Office. To make a drive-up appointment, visit healthpartners.com and use the five-digit employer code 10397. To make an appointment at the Well@Work Clinic, call 952-967-7468. 

Common COVID-19 symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, a fever, muscle or body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or new loss of taste or smell. 

View the latest COVID-19 case information by worksite

The annual Charitable Giving Campaign begins today and will continue through Friday, Nov. 6.

During the campaign, employees can sign up to have a portion of each paycheck directed to an eligible nonprofit or make one-time contributions. Pledge forms will be accepted online through Friday, Nov. 13; paper copies are available at work sites.

In 2019, Council employees pledged more than $69,000 through the Charitable Giving Campaign.

Employees who want to learn more about this year’s campaign can attend virtual kick-off meetings today, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. or noon.

In addition, employees who are working on-site are invited to bring non-perishable food items to collection sites at their work location.

A one-day collection event will be held at the Metro Transit Police & Office Facility from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. In addition to non-perishable food items, staff may bring new winter clothing, toiletries and other household items to that event.

Items will be donated to Minneapolis-based Good in the Hood, St. Paul-based Keystone Community Services, and food shelves in Blaine, Anoka and Big Lake.

For more information about the campaign kick-off events and volunteering for the October 31 event, contact Julie Obedoza.

For the fourth year, the Council will offer the MentoringWorks Program, providing employees an opportunity to build professional skills and transfer knowledge. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 program will be entirely virtual. Applications to become a mentor or mentee will open Dec.1, 2020, and be accepted throughout the next year.

Employees who would like to learn more about becoming a mentee or mentor are invited to attend a virtual information session on Microsoft Teams from noon to 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4. To join the virtual information session at that time, use this link.

For more information, e-mail MentoringWorks@metc.state.mn.us or visit the MentoringWorks site on MetNet. 

While Gwendolyn Wright was raising a family and working a temp job, her sister Patricia Wright, a bus operator, encouraged her to apply at what was then known as the Metropolitan Transit Commission.

She was skeptical, but applied, got the job and ultimately built a 40-year career as a bus operator. Wright retired in September.

Most of Wright's career was spent at Nicollet Garage, where she enjoyed driving a variety of routes and learning how to greet customers in different languages. "My customers helped me learn how to say hello and goodbye in Spanish, American Sign Language, and Somali," Wright said. "It was great to be able to greet all my customers as they boarded my bus no matter what language they spoke. And when we couldn't communicate, a smile was a universal language."

In retirement,Wright plans to travel and spend time with her eight children and 27 grandchildren (with more on the way). "I gave my heart to Metro Transit," she said. "But now it's time to give more of mine to my family." 

Congratulations to these employees who also retired in October

William Moss, Operator, East Metro, 5 years of service

Dwight Nelson, Operator, Heywood, 9 years of service

Ronald Klein, Operator, Heywood, 18 years of service

William McCoy, Operator, Heywood, 20 years of service

Gwendolyn McCall, Operator, Heywood, 26 years of service

Bob Boyle, Foreperson Electro Mechanical Technician, 44 years of service

Congratulations to these employees who celebrated anniversaries in October

40 years

Charles Feucht, Mechanic Technician, East Metro

Dawn Hoffner, Program Tech Specialist

Christy Bailly, Director, Bus Transportation

25 years

William Carlstrom, Operator, South

20 years

Ed Petrie, Director, Finance

Jean O'Neill, Operator, Nicollet

Amy Ferman, Transit Supervisor

Daniel Tedford, Train Operator

Bus Transportation welcomes new managers

 > Amina Wolf is the new manager at the Ruter Garage, where she had also been serving in an acting role. Wolf began her career at Metro Transit as a bus operator 14 years ago. She has also served as a train operator, rail supervisor and assistant transportation manager. Wolf is the current chair of Advancing Women in Transit, an Employee Resource Group.  

 > Bobby Andress is the new manager at the Heywood Garage, where he had been serving in an acting manager role. Andress began his career at Metro Transit 23 years ago as a Transit Information Center representative. He has also served as an assistant transportation manager and transit supervisor.  

Several assistant transportation manager positions will be filled soon.  

Apply to become a Train Operator by November 20

Train Operator applications are being accepted through Friday, Nov. 20. Current full- and part-time bus operators are eligible to apply. Qualified employees will be referred to the hiring supervisor for consideration based upon passing a 12-month work record evaluation, physical agility assessment and an oral exam. A physical will also be required at the time of acceptance or transfer. For more information, e-mail Beverly Brown.

Review the Train Operator posting and apply

HealthPartners’ mobile mammography truck, Mammo-a-go-go, will be at the Heywood Garage on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All Council employees are invited to schedule an appointment for a free mammogram. Annual mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer at an early and more curable stage. To schedule an appointment, call 952-993-3700.

Learn more about Mammo-a-go-go

Open Enrollment begins November 2

Open Enrollment runs from Monday, Nov. 2 through Friday, Nov. 20. During Open Enrollment, employees can choose to keep their current medical or vision plans, choose another plan or enroll or disenroll yourself or family members in the medical, dental, life and vision plans.

Several virtual Open Enrollment sessions will be held during the Open Enrollment period. For information on these events and other Open Enrollment questions, contact the Council’s Benefits-One line at 651-602-1601, e-mail benefits@metc.state.mn.us or visit the Benefits page on MetNet.