From John Levin, Director-Strategic Initiatives
Not all that long ago, we monitored ridership primarily by riding buses or counting heads as buses passed by. Such observations are still important but, with the addition of new technology, we can now also see almost instantly where and when customers are riding.
Advances in our data collection and analysis efforts have been indispensable since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing us to quickly understand and adapt to historic changes in demand.
There are numerous other examples of how better data and analysis yields improvements for our customer.
Working closely with Rail Operations, Engineering & Facilities, and local partners, we are pinpointing locations where delays most-often occur and making targeted signal improvements that lead to faster and more consistent travel times.
Partnering with Transit Information, we evaluated the accuracy of real-time bus arrival predictions while evaluating potential vendors – work that lead us to choose a provider based not just on cost but on their ability to demonstrate their product.
We have also used data to monitor how crowded our vehicles are, easily review where and when collisions are occurring and to gauge customer and employee sentiment.
As we begin to emerge from the pandemic and look further into the future, we will need even more reliable data to improve in a host of areas, including service delivery, shelter investments, hiring and safety.
While we are fortunate to have a team of skilled data scientists who can analyze and share takeaways from the information we collect, this is a true team effort.
Indeed, the quality of our data can rely on something as simple as having clean door sensors that detect when a customer gets on a bus or train. Similarly, our use of data relies on the databases and networks that hold and carry the data. Thank you to all the staff who contribute to this work.
As the general manager has said, we are committed to becoming a better, stronger, and more responsive service provider.
To fulfill that commitment, Metro Transit leadership will need to clearly define and build support for what we’re trying to achieve. We must also commit to actions that lead us toward those goals and carefully monitor the progress that’s being made.
This work is already occurring but, as an organization, we must become even more precise and deliberate about stating our intentions and keeping ourselves accountable in our efforts to achieve them.
As the leader of our Strategic Initiatives Department, it is also incumbent on me and my team to encourage information sharing, help staff and partners find value in the data we collect and help inspire new lines of inquiry that lead to continual improvement.
So again, thank you to all those who are supporting our work. It is only because of your help that we can collect, share, and use all the data we have at our disposal to become the better and stronger organization we aspire to be.
This week, John Levin was honored with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies 2021 Richard P. Braun Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented annually to a transportation professional who has shown outstanding leadership in research and innovation. Read more on the Riders’ Almanac blog.
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On Friday, May 28, Minnesota businesses will no longer be subject to occupancy limits set by the state to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Following this guidance, Metro Transit will no longer limit the number of passengers on vehicles or pass up people waiting to board based on the number of passengers already on-board effective Friday, May 28.
Customers will continue to be encouraged to keep space between themselves and others when it is possible to do so. To reduce crowding, service on local bus routes and light rail lines is at or near the same levels as before the pandemic, while ridership is down about 60%.
Service levels will remain about the same through the end of the summer. The next round of scheduled service changes will take effect on August 21 and will account for changes in demand.
As restrictions loosen, please remember:
- Masks are still required on transit and at worksites, regardless of vaccination status.
- If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, immediately contact your health care provider, regardless of your vaccination status.
- If you believe you've been exposed, immediately contact your manager, regardless of your vaccination status.
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Never ask your co-workers about private, personal medical information, including their COVID-19 vaccination status.
Metro Transit buses that were recently retrofitted to serve as mobile vaccination units are now traveling across the state.
Last weekend, South Garage Assistant Transportation Manager Mary Johnson and East Metro Bus Operator James Yang brought one of six specially equipped buses to Long Prairie, Clarissa, Bertha and Staples. The buses are being deployed to reach populations where vaccines are less accessible.
Technicians from the Overhaul Base retrofitted the buses in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Health, including a fuel gauge needed for long-distance driving. The buses will remain in service through the end of the summer.
If additional support making a vaccine appointment is needed, please contact Lisa Belland.
Staff will have several upcoming opportunities to participate in discussions about race and racism, part of a continued effort to build an inclusive culture at Metro Transit.
The “Beginning Conversations on Race” series, facilitated by members of the Equity & Inclusion Team and Equity & Inclusion Coordinator Rachel Cagle, will kick-off on Thursday, May 27.
The series will include four, one-hour sessions, each beginning at noon, and are open to all Metro Transit staff. The series includes:
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Thursday, May 27: Setting the Stage
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Thursday, June 3: Economic Repercussions of Race
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Thursday, June 10: Whiteness as the Dominant Culture
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Thursday, June 17: Action through Allyship
WebEx invites for each session have been sent to all staff. Please accept the invites if you plan to attend and you will receive the necessary resources and discussion questions to prepare for the session.
Other upcoming events include:
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Monday, May 24, 11 a.m., and Tuesday, June 1, 11 a.m.: Discussions about the economic and health costs of racism with Jamil Stamschror-Lott, a mental health clinician and co-CEO of Creative Kuponya. Contact fitforlife@metc.state.mn.us
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Tuesday, May 25, 2 p.m.: Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism with Erin Walsh, Co-founder, Spark & Stitch Institute. Contact fitforlife@metc.state.mn.us
Celebration of life will commemorate George Floyd anniversary
The one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, Tuesday, May 25, will be marked by a daylong celebration of life at George Floyd Square. Activities begin at 1 p.m., and a candlelight vigil will be held at 8 p.m. From May 23 to may 25, events will also be held at Government Plaza and the Commons Park in downtown Minneapolis. Learn more at georgefloydmemorial.org.
Earlier this week, Advancing Women in Transit hosted a conversation to memorialize the anniversary and reflect on efforts to address racial inequities at Metro Transit and the Council. A follow-up meeting will be held soon. For more information, contact Amina Wolf.
A broader equity update will be shared with staff in June, a year after employees were invited to share their ideas and a list of priority actions was presented.
Save the Date: Juneteenth
The Equity & Inclusion Team is planning a virtual event and other recognition of Juneteenth, which will be celebrated on Monday, June 14. Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. More information will be shared soon.
Ask HR: Diversity, equity and inclusion update
Human Resources will share information about efforts to support of diversity, equity, and inclusion goals during an online Ask HR session next week. The event will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 24. An Outlook invite has already been sent. For more information, contact Paula Crane.
Material Management recently opened a new warehouse in Roseville where more than 3,000 different light rail items are now being stored. More room was needed because existing storage areas have reached capacity.
The new 20,000-square-foot storage space is more than twice the size of the storage area at the Hiawatha Operations & Maintenance Facility and has been outfitted with 16-foot tall pallet racks, drawers and a small office space.
The space is on Walnut Street, just five miles north of Material Management's main offices and storage area at the Overhaul Base.
Phuntsok Dhundup, Assistant Transportation Manager, South
Tell us a little bit about your background and your role at Metro Transit.
I’m a Tibetan, was born in India and immigrated to the United States after the passage of the Immigration Act of 1990. The act granted 1,000 immigrant visas to Tibetans living in India and Nepal. Over the years, I gradually reunified with family members. In 2009, I moved to the Twin Cities. Minnesota has the second-largest Tibetan American community in the United States. The early days were hard, but Tibetans have a well-deserved reputation as being sincere and hard workers. I joined Metro Transit in 2010 as a bus operator and later became a relief instructor. I’ve been an assistant transportation manager since 2015.
What are some of the traditional foods you’d enjoy in an everyday setting?
Shab tra, which is stir fried meat with celery, carrots and fresh green chili; sha phaley, which is bread stuffed with seasoned beef and vegetables; and thenthuk, which is hand-pulled noodle soup (wheat flour dough, mixed vegetables and some pieces of mutton).
What is a favorite food you enjoy at a special celebration?
Tibetan dumplings, known as momos. They’re juicy and usually served with soup and Tibetan hot sauce. I often invite my friends to Tibetan special events because celebration of diverse culture and tradition is an important part of education.
Where can you find Tibetan food locally?
Although the best Tibetan food is back in Tibet, Nepal and India, westernized version can be found at Tibet Kitchen, on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis.
Rail Safety Officer Rick Taylor was recently recognized by Tim Rogotzke, the light rail program manager for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
I appreciate him (Rick) taking me along on station checks…I learned a lot about the systems and the things Rail Safety is looking for when doing these checks. He is very knowledgeable about the overall mission and role of the Safety Department as it relates to Metro Transit’s overall mission. I would also like to comment on the work he has been doing with the rail accident reports. He has done a fine job relaying the facts in a manner that state simply what actions led to the collision and describing the facts that lead to a conclusion. Rick’s actions reflect the overall efforts and attitude of the Rail Safety Department.
Correction: Last week's Insights included the incorrect job title for the commendation recipient. The commendation was for Customer Relations Specialist John Stephens.
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 As part of the Orange Line Connecting Bus Study's Recommended Plan, Route 515 consolidates from three variations to one.
In anticipation of the METRO Orange Line’s late-2021 opening, Metro Transit is proposing a host of bus service changes that will improve local bus service to help customers get to and from the new Bus Rapid Transit Line.
Based on public input and nearly 600 survey responses, Metro Transit developed a Recommended Plan calling for improved frequency on seven routes that connect with Orange Line stations in Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington, and Edina.
The plan also calls for the creation of five new routes that would expand access to employers, Normandale College, and residential areas.
Other highlights include:
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Largely replacing Route 535 with the Orange Line. Current Route 535 branches will be served by four new local routes
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Extending Route 27 to serve the I-35W & Lake Street Station, re-establishing access to large employers like Abbot Northwestern Hospital, Allina, Children’s Hospital and Wells Fargo.
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Simplifying Route 515 from three variations to one.
The plan will be presented to the Metropolitan Council for final approval in June. Changes are expected to be made when the Orange Line opens.
The recommendations do not address bus service in Burnsville or areas south of the Minnesota River where the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) is the transit service provider.
Hiring managers shared information about several current openings during a pair of interactive online sessions held this week. The sessions are now available to view on demand.
Watch the May 18 session about the Transit Information Data Coordinator and Light Rail Vehicle Maintenance Training Supervisor positions here.
Watch the May 20 session about the Assistant Director-Bus Maintenance position here.
Links to the recordings are also available on the Equity & Inclusion MetNet page.
The sessions were offered to increase awareness of the openings and help employees understand the pathways to those positions. For more information about these of future events, contact Sarah Berres.
2021 legislative session headed into overtime: The Minnesota House and Senate concluded the 2021 regular legislative session this week but a special session will need to be called in June to pass the negotiated budget bills. In the meantime, legislators have set budget targets for each major area, including transportation, and will spend the coming weeks negotiating budget and policy details. A proposal that would allow Community Service Officers to issue administrative citations for fare evasion, was passed by the House but was not passed in the Senate. The proposal may be subject to further negotiation.
Transit Safety Conversation continues: A community engagement effort that will help inform a more in-depth review of the Metro Transit Police Department’s policies and practices will continue with a series of forums in June. The virtual forums are being hosted by the Citizen’s League and the Twin Cities Innovation Alliance, in partnership with the Metropolitan Council. An online survey inviting feedback on experiences with transit police and safety perceptions is also open. Staff is encouraged to share these opportunities with their networks. Engagement related to the review will be completed this summer. The Citizens League will create a summary that will complement and help set the agenda for a more in-depth review of the Metro Transit Police Department’s policies and practices that will formally begin later this year. For more information, contact Michelle Fure.
Volunteers to model wanted: The marketing departments for The Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit are actively seeking out models for future photo and video projects from among our employees. They are asking all Met Council staff to consider filling out this online form regarding their interest. They are looking for employee participants from all walks of life and communities to voluntarily participate in photo shoots, video shoots, and voice over work. If you have further questions, please contact Kathryn Lehinger.
Buses replacing Green Line trains May 21-23: Buses will replace Green Line trains between the U.S. Bank Stadium and Stadium Village stations from 7 p.m. Friday, May 21, through 4 a.m. Sunday. May 23, to allow for scheduled maintenance in the corridor, including track repair. During the disruption, downtown Minneapolis stations will be served only by Blue Line trains.
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