From General Manager Wes Kooistra
Today is Transit Equity Day, which commemorates Rosa Parks’ birthday and the role transit can play in helping our communities become more fair and just. February is also Black History Month, a time to honor the contributions of Black Americans.
To commemorate these occasions, our Equity & Inclusion Team created posters honoring Parks and other brave Black women who were arrested for refusing to give up their seats that will appear on buses throughout the day.
The team will also be sharing more of our own Black history as part of a larger campaign to connect our past to our present.
I want to thank the Equity & Inclusion Team for leading us in this important work. But this is work we all must share.
We cannot change the past. But we can learn from it. Today is an opportunity to reflect on transit’s historic role in furthering racial and economic disparities, as well as its current and potential influence in reducing disparities that still exist.
We have come a long way from that courageous moment when Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger, but there is still much more to do to better connect people to opportunities. My thanks to all of you who work every day to identify and address improvements that are needed to deliver a fair and just service to our riders.
Cautious optimism on COVID-19
As we’ve learned over the past two years, it’s impossible to predict where the pandemic will go next. But the decline in cases we've seen over the past few weeks is encouraging.
I want to repeat my appreciation for all those who worked so hard over the past month to manage and work through a rapid rise in cases, especially our operations team who responded remarkably well while we were so short-staffed.
I also want to thank all those who are supporting our continued response efforts.
This week, we began piloting a new rapid testing program at our garages and other transportation facilities that will save people from having to seek testing elsewhere if they are exposed or are returning to work after testing positive.
In some cases, this effort will allow us to proactively screen individuals whose work requires them to be together for longer periods of time.
Our Engineering & Facilities team is also making great strides toward creating safer and more flexible workspaces that will support a wider return to office, including the renovation of the former Heywood driver’s room into a shared workspace.
We must continue to move ahead cautiously. But we can all take hope in the fact that things are moving in the right direction.
Support for transit expansion continues
The recently announced changes to the Green Line Extension’s budget and timeline have understandably raised a lot of questions. But the past week has also been a reminder of how much support there is for this project and other plans to expand our transit network.
Among the strongest shows of support came from Gov. Tim Walz, whose supplemental budget proposal includes $200 million for the Blue Line Extension. This represents the largest contribution the state could make at this point. This most recent proposal comes in addition to the Governor’s bonding recommendation of $60 million that will support the continued expansion of the Arterial Bus Rapid Transit network.
I look forward to seeing the Blue Line Extension project advance in the coming year, beginning with the identification of a revised community-supported route that will bring light rail service to north Minneapolis and the northwest metro. Thank you to the project team who continues to involve community members at every step along the way.
If you haven’t followed closely, I encourage you to review the latest route and station plans and to follow along as we work toward a recommendation later this year.
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 Metro Transit celebrates Black History Month
The Black History Month Committee will host two live events later this month to celebrate Black History and share music videos submitted by staff. The events will be held on:
In addition to the staff talent contest, the events will feature a singing of the Black National Anthem, an introduction to the BIPOC Employee Resource Group (ERG) and giveaways. Both events will be recorded and made available to view at any time.
Employees are also invited to order a "soulful dinner" to enjoy during the Friday, Feb. 25, event. Pre-order online here.
For more information, contact Black History Month Committee members Traci Williamson, Devona Love or Demetre Muhammad.
For more information about the BIPOC ERG, contact Victoria Dan.
Download Black History Month backgrounds for Teams here and here.
History Highlight: Earliest Black transit employees
Historical records suggest the first Black streetcar employee was likely Sylvester Carter, who began as a car cleaner at the North Side Station in 1937; the first Black streetcar motorman is believed to be Claude Mason, who was hired in 1945.
According to a 1945 front-page article in the Minneapolis Spokesman, Carter also served as a mechanic’s helper, switchman, repairman and as a substitute conductor. Mason, the newspaper reported, graduated Central High School and “went into training as a streetcar operator after he was laid off at the Twin Cities Ordnance plant where he drove an ammunition truck.”
Among the few other early Black operators was William Massie, above right, who began in 1947 and retired with 37 years of service. Massie lived just a few blocks off University Avenue and, after streetcars were retired, drove the Route 16A on University Avenue.
“The thing that was exciting to me was that he’d bring the bus home for lunch and park it right in front of the house,” his daughter Sue Massie said. “All the neighbors thought it was cool.”
William Massie’s son, Dale Massie, retired from Metro Transit in 2018 after 30 years of service.
The Equity & Inclusion Team is interested in learning more about Black history at Metro Transit and its predecessors. If you have more information to share, please contact Rachel Cagle.
Cooking Up Culture series
Fit For Life kicks off a new virtual series, Cooking Up Culture, on Friday, Feb. 25, with local Chef Lachellle Cunningham of Chelle’s Kitchen, Healthy Roots Institute & The Good Acre. During each event, chefs will use food as a pathway to explore history and social justice. Future sessions will feature chefs Amalia Moreno-Damgaard, Yia Vang and others. Chef Lachelle will present again in April. For more information, email FitForLife@metc.state.mn.us.
Continue learning
A Proclamation on National Black History Month
Here’s the story behind Black History Month – and why it’s celebrated in February
Black History, Black Voices – Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota African American Heritage Museum
Black History Month with Twin Cities PBS
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Service Development Administrator Rita Miller retired this week with 47 years of service. Miller began her career as a clerk typist at the Old Snelling Garage and later served at the Overhaul Base and Instruction Center. In retirement, she plans to spend more time with her grandchildren. Millers's co-workers in Service Development shared these memories and well wishes.
"Rita was our go-to person. She seemed to know everyone, she knew where to find things, she knew how to get things done. If you needed help, she’d do anything you asked. She will be greatly missed!" – Shaun Morell, Manager of Scheduling Systems and Support
“Her tenure at the organization developed a wide range of relationships across departments that strengthened all of our work, whether TIC, Bus Operations, Garages, TCC, or Finance.” – Adam Harrington, Director of Service Development
“Rita was a quiet force of nature that kept our department humming. She was always kind and helpful, looking to assist wherever possible.” – Cyndi Harper, Manger Route Planning
The number of newly reported COVID-19 cases continued to fall this week after a surge in early-January. Statewide case counts and positivity rates have also fallen but remain "at or above Minnesota’s previous all-time highs." As reminders:
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Ruter Operator Sarah Pollard and Metro Transit police, who recently worked with United Twin Cities to distribute dozens of blankets, hand warmers and comfort food to customers at the Brooklyn Center Transit Center.
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Bus Maintenance, for recently completing the installation of operator barriers on the active fleet of more than 600 buses. Technicians at the Overhaul Base, supported by staff at each garage, began installing the barriers in 2018. All new buses are coming equipped with barriers.
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Operators at Ruter Garage, who recently had two consecutive weeks without a responsible collision.
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Train Operators, who went the entire month of January without running through red signals or work zones. A red signal overrun is akin to a motor vehicle going through a stoplight. Work zone overruns are when a light rail train enters a work zone set up for track or switch maintenance without permission.
Applications are being accepted this month for two positions that are open only to current employees:
• Street Operations is accepting applications for Transit Supervisor through Wednesday, Feb. 9. There are three current openings that will be filled immediately; other qualified applicants will go on an eligibility list for future openings. Review the posting here.
• Revenue Operations is accepting applications for Fare Collections Specialist through Monday, Feb. 14. There is currently one open, floating position that will serve all garages; schedule details will be discussed during the interview process. An eligibility list will be maintained for future openings. Review the posting here.
Review a full list of current job openings
Internship applications accepted through February 28
Dozens of summer internships open to degree-seeking students and recent graduates were posted this week. Applications will be accepted through February 28. Interns will begin in late-May and serve through mid-August. Applications for the Urban Scholars and Ability Internship Program are also being accepted now.
For more information, contact Luis Martinez.
Learn more about Council internships
MentoringWorks deadline extended
The deadline to apply for the MentoringWorks program has been extended to Monday, Feb. 28. Visit MetNet to learn more, watch a virtual information session and apply to be a mentor or mentee for the six-month program beginning in April.
Transit Information Center representative Jacquelene Crushshon recently received a commendation for her customer service.
I got some assistance, and I won’t be able to say enough about her. She is so patient and understanding. It’s very clear she has a mastery of transit information! She’s that good!
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A service that allows customers to get real-time information using text message is getting a new number and an upgrade.
NexTrip via Text, introduced in 2015, has a new number customers can text for real time departure information: 50934. With the new number comes enhancements to the service – customers can now receive information about stop closures and canceled trips, information that is also being provided through other online transit information tools.
To get predicted real time information, customers should text the stop number to 50934 (previously, the stop number needed to be preceded by “mt”).
The new number will begin appearing on bus stop signs over the coming months; the old code (27299) will remain active during the transition and be discontinued later this year.
At peak, customers used NexTrip via Text more than 450,000 times a month.
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