From Brian Funk, Deputy Chief of Operations-Bus, and Adam Harrington, Director-Service Development
Last Saturday, more than 200 employees received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at an on-site clinic. As of today, all front-line workers should have been invited to make vaccination appointments at a state-run clinic at the Mall of America. Hundreds of employees have received shots through other health care providers.
Soon, every adult in Minnesota will have the chance to receive a vaccine.
We are encouraged and grateful that more of our employees and customers are getting the opportunity to be vaccinated, and that so many of them are choosing to do so. Vaccinations are key to inviting more of our employees back to the workplace and more customers back to transit.
Moving forward, we must also consider how prevalent COVID-19 is in our community and continue to follow public health guidance. And the reality is this: Just a quarter of Minnesotans have received at least one vaccine dose, the number of reported cases is at its highest level in months and variants are presenting the risk of another surge.
As eager as we are to invite workers and customers back, we’re simply not there yet.
Passenger limits will remain in place and all of us must continue to wear masks and be careful about traveling and gathering with others. Those who are currently working from home should plan to continue doing so until at least June, when we could begin a phased return to worksites for teleworking employees.
While we are proceeding cautiously, we are also aware that the world around us is evolving.
Next month, high school students will be invited back to the classroom in Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Twins will begin hosting up to 10,000 fans at Target Field and restrictions on bars and restaurants will be relaxed. The Minnesota State Fair’s general manager said last week that he is “cautiously optimistic” the fair will be held this August.
We can also expect more people to gradually begin returning to their workplaces over the coming months.
We will be paying close attention to how these changes impact when, where and how people want to use transit, and we will do our best to adjust our services to meet those demands while allowing for a level of social distancing.
Scheduled service changes in June and August will continue to prioritize service on higher ridership routes and those serving neighborhoods where fewer people have access to vehicles. Service will also be improved on select routes, including Route 63 and multiple routes that will connect to the METRO Orange Line when it opens later this year.
In the immediate future, we will continue to remind customers, employers and stakeholders of all the steps we’re taking to provide a safe and comfortable experience.
Eventually, we hope conditions will allow us to move to the next phase and begin inviting those who haven’t been riding to come back.
We want to thank all those who are helping us create a safe environment for those who are riding today, and who are positioning us for what lies ahead. We still have a way to go, but we’re getting closer every day.
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More than 200 employees received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic hosted at the Metro Transit Police & Office Facility on Saturday, March 20. Metro Transit hosted the clinic after receiving an unexpected allotment of vaccines from the City of Minneapolis.
Lt. Mario Ruberto, center, top left, was recognized at Saturday’s clinic for his role in securing vaccine supply for front-line workers and other efforts he’s made to support Metro Transit’s COVID-19 response.
By now, all employees who have public-facing jobs or whose on-site work does not allow for social distancing should have been invited to make an appointment at a state-run clinic at the Mall of America. If you believe you should have been contacted and have not yet received a text or email, contact a manager or supervisor and ensure your contact information is up to date in Employee Self Service.
On-site clinics may be held if there is a need. To help with planning, please email vaccines@metrotransit.org if you have received a vaccine.
Things to keep in mind as vaccination efforts continue
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Employees may use COVID-19 leave if they have a reaction to the vaccine and need to take time off, but only if they have Emergency Sick Pay (ESP) time available. Employees may not use COVID-19 leave to get a vaccine.
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It takes at least two weeks from the final vaccine dose to develop immunity. Even after you are fully vaccinated, you should continue to wear masks, practice social distancing, delay travel and get tested if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19.
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If you have not been contacted about receiving your vaccine, sign up for notifications at vaccineconnector.mn.gov and confirm your contact information is correct at healthpartners.com.
Minnesota is not requiring vaccinations, but they are strongly encouraged to help stop the pandemic.
Minnesota planning major expansion of vaccine doses
On Friday, Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce an expansion of COVID-19 vaccination to all state residents age 16 and older beginning next week. Stay tuned as we receive more information and better understand what this means for our employees.
Review COVID-19 case data by worksite
Every Friday, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the Employee Resource Center in the previous week will be reported in Insights. Managers and supervisors are encouraged to post this information at work sites.
Advancing Women in Transit will conclude its Women’s Month symposium with a panel of female-identifying staff from Bus Transportation on Monday, March 29. The online event will begin at noon and is open to all who are interested in attending.
Panelists will provide brief remarks beginning at noon and allow time for questions. Panelists include:
- Yolanda Sims, Operator-East Metro
- Vanessa L'Esperance, Operator-Heywood
- Erica Igure, Operator-Heywood
- Ann Marie Deneen, who retired in 2020 after 40 years as a bus operator
At 1 p.m., Rachel Cagle, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator, will speak about resiliency.
Throughout the month, symposium speakers have been invited to talk about leadership traits more commonly associated with women, including resiliency, empathy, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Symposium events are being held on Microsoft Teams, which is available on desktop and as an app. To learn more about using Teams, contact ECM; for technical support, contact the ServiceDesk.
AWT is an Employee Resource Group for female-identifying employees at Metro Transit. Group members meet regularly to share ideas, support one another, and build a professional network. For more information, contact Jennifer Kochaver.
If you attended the AWT Symposium, please consider sharing your impressions and feedback. With permission, responses may be shared in a future edition of Insights. Submit your responses here.
ES, CD hosting Women's Month events
Environmental Services and Community Development are hosting two upcoming Women's Month events. At noon today, Friday, March 26, there will be a screening of 9 to 5, a film about a group of Boston secretaries who sought better pay, advancement opportunities and an end to sexual harassment. At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 31, a panel will talk about the intersection of gender, race and the ability for women in public policy roles. For more information, contact Suidi Hashi.
Expand your network by joining WTS Minnesota
Employees who want to expand their skills and professional network are invited to utilize newly available benefits from WTS Minnesota. WTS Minnesota is the local chapter of WTS International, which seeks to advance women in transportation. Metro Transit is now a corporate member of WTS Minnesota, allowing all employees to register for events at the member rate, regardless of their membership status. Employees may also apply for WTS grants, attend WTS training programs, and serve on WTS committees. For more information, contact Carrie Desmond.
Save the Date: WTS MN 2021 Recognition Event
WTS Minnesota will recognize its 2021 award recipients during an online ceremony on Thursday, April 29. The event will run from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Several Metro Transit employees will be recognized, including Transportation Manager Amina Wolf, Ayantu Gemeda, Assistant Manager-Street Operations Bus Rapid Transit, and Deputy Chief of Operations-Bus Brian Funk. Register for the event here.
Twenty years ago, Marissa Higgins got a round-trip plane ticket to Minneapolis hoping to access the resources she was seeking to become her true self.
The move from Missouri to Minnesota also led Higgins to Metro Transit, where she has served as an operator since 2018.
To commemorate International Transgender Day of Visibility, Higgins shared her story and offered some advice for those who want to be supportive allies.
How did you begin your transition?
In 2001, I moved from Missouri to Minneapolis to utilize resources available through the University of Minnesota’s Gender Care program. I had a round-trip ticket, and said if I didn’t like it, I’d come back. I started counseling, found a place to stay, a place to work, changed my legal name and started taking hormones. I still have a long way to go, but it feels great.
How have people responded?
It has caused some problems. Some people look at you like you’re crazy, there are bathroom issues, I haven’t always had managers who understand, though that’s gotten better. There aren’t any other transgender people at Metro Transit that I’m aware of. With this job, there’s always a concern that something could go wrong, and I think there’s even more of a concern about discrimination and violence for me. But I’ve conversed with a few transgender people who appreciate seeing me and have told me I make them feel comfortable and safe and have found a supportive network here in the Twin Cities.
So, how did you come to work in transit?
I’ve driven most of my life, whether it was a school bus, a party bus, a city bus or transporting people who have disabilities. Some people will ask, ‘How do you do it and why are you working there?’ My answer is, I like to drive, and I like to deal with people. It’s fun to help people get where they need to go, and it gives me a real sense of accomplishment.
What can people do to be more supportive?
If you don’t want to use the correct pronouns, just use names and that’s it. Don’t stare and don’t ask a lot of silly questions. If people want to tell you something, they’ll tell you. Most of all, just try to be accepting.
Learn more about what it means to be transgender
International Transgender Day of Visibility is held annually on March 31 to celebrate transgender and non-binary people, and to raise awareness of the discrimination and violence they face. People whose gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth may be transgender. Learn more at transequality.org.
Join the Pride Employee Resource Group
All employees are invited to join an Employee Resource Group (ERG) for LGBTQ employees and allies. The group hosts monthly discussions and serves as a support network. For more information, contact Dave Hanson or Nia Colebrooke.
Remember: Update your signature by April 1
All employees are asked to begin using the Council’s standard email signature by April 1. The standard template was recently updated and includes a line where employees can designate their personal pronouns. Follow these instructions to use the new template. Learn more about the importance of using gender pronouns here.
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More People of Color are working at Metro Transit and filling management positions, according to data collected by Human Resources.
At the end of 2020, People of Color represented 41.5% of Metro Transit’s total workforce and held 21.5% of the division’s management positions. In 2009, People of Color made up less than a third of Metro Transit’s workforce and held 14.5% of management positions.
More than 57% of the agency’s bus operators are People of Color, up from 48.8% in 2015.
Regionally, less than a quarter of the workforce is People of Color and 12.3% of executive and management positions are held by People of Color.
Other highlights from the Council’s year-end workforce data report include:
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There were slight declines in the number of female-identifying employees at Metro Transit last year. By year’s end, 20.4% of bus operators, 22.6% of non-bus operators and 22.6% of managers identified as females. Regionally, women make up 48% of the total workforce and hold 41% of management positions. Metro Transit has a higher percentage of female employees than are found across the region’s transportation industry, however.
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Despite a soft hiring freeze, Metro Transit filled 357 vacancies last year, including 95 bus operator positions, 33 mechanic positions, 17 police officer positions and 9 public facility worker positions. Internal candidates filled 157 vacancies in 2020. People of Color accounted for 51.4% of Metro Transit’s new hires last year, a slight increase from previous years.
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2% of Metro Transit employees self-reported having a disability. The number is believed to be an under-representation because candidates and employees are reluctant to report this information.
- Nearly 300 Metro Transit employees, including 132 bus operators will become eligible for retirement this year. Nearly a third of Metro Transit's workforce will become eligible for retirement by 2024.
Human Resources publishes workforce data twice a year. For questions about the data please contact Marcy Syman, Human Resources Director.
The Metro Transit Police Department welcomes four new full-time police officers who began training this week. Clockwise from top left they are: Randy Chon, Valentin Retezan, Chereyia Yang and Gideon Gonzales. The department now has 143 full-time and 60 part-time officers.
Other recently hired employees include:
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Duresa Kabato, Janitor
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Eric Christopherson, Traction Power Maintainer
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Luke Sandstrom, Principal Engineer
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Michael Stein, Stockkeeper
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Ronald St Pierre, Stockkeeper
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Fatima Ba, Principal Administrative Specialist, Transit Police
Bus Transportation seeking relief instructors
Full-time bus operators who would like to provide supplemental or substitute operator training are invited to apply for a role as a relief instructor by Thursday, April 8. This posting will fill multiple current openings at all garages and establish an eligibility list for future openings. Bus operator applications are also being accepted now. About 50 new operators will need to be hired before August.
Current job openings include: Janitor, Light Rail Transit Helper/Cleaner, Stockkeeper and Relief Instructor.
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The law enforcement presence around Government Center is expected to increase slightly as opening arguments in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin begin on Monday, March 29.
To date, there have been no reported arrests, property damage or deliberate obstructions of transit service.
The METRO C Line's 7th Street & 3rd Avenue station is currently closed; customers are asked to board at Nicollet Mall. Government Plaza Station and most other bus stops immediately surrounding the Government Center are open.
Ramsey County, Saint Paul hosting community healing circles
Residents are invited to attend virtual or in-person community healing circles to address the hurt and trauma caused by the killing of George Floyd last summer, the civil unrest that followed in our neighborhoods and the ongoing trial. These circles are led by experienced individual healers who are embedded in the community and use their lived experiences, expertise and training to facilitate a welcoming, safe and comfortable environment for participants to express themselves.
Nicollet Operator Lamar Childs recently received a commendation for his attentiveness to this customer's needs.
I have a bad leg and was trying to make it to my bus stop in time to catch the bus. The driver noticed and he waited for me to board and also waited for me to find a seat before taking off. I want to thank him for his great service.
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Learn more about Creative Services at upcoming Lunch & Learns: Creative Services is hosting two Lunch & Learns to share information about their work. The first session will be held at noon on Thursday, April 1, and will give an overview of the department's staff, the types of projects the department works on, and how brand standards are used to create a clear, consistent, accessible and equitable tone. The second session will be held at noon on Thursday, April 8, and cover Workfront, the project management tool used to initiate projects and track progress. If you have not received an email invitation, please contact Sharon Feiner.
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D Line construction begins in April: Crews will soon begin working on the METRO D Line, a new Bus Rapid Transit service that will largely replace Route 5. New stations will be built at 34 intersections along the existing Route 5 corridor between south Minneapolis and the Mall of America. Construction at each intersection will include new road and sidewalk sections, changes to traffic signals, and installation of new BRT shelters. Intersections may be fully closed to traffic for up to a month with additional lane restrictions for longer time periods. The D Line is scheduled to open in late 2022. The Metropolitan Council this week also adopted recommendations for three additional Bus Rapid Transit lines that will become known as the F, G and H lines.
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Buses replacing Green Line trains April 2 through April 5: Buses will replace trains on a portion of the Green Line next weekend so crews can fix sections of broken rail. Buses will replace trains between the Captiol/Rice and Raymond Avenue stations between 7 p.m. on Friday, April 2, and the end of service on Sunday, April 4.
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