From General Manager Wes Kooistra
Talking about our budget in a compelling way isn’t easy.
But it’s important for staff to understand our financial outlook, so I want to take this opportunity to share some insight on the preliminary operating budget we’ve presented to the Metropolitan Council.
Most importantly: Our proposed spending plan supports our goal of returning to pre-pandemic service levels on bus and light rail.
Ridership continues to grow and is now more than 50% of 2019 levels. Providing a high level of service is essential to making transit useful to those who rely on us and to attracting new and lapsed riders.
Our operating budget also includes funding to operate the METRO D Line and the North Loop Garage, to continue expanding our investment in public safety initiatives, and to offer more weekday and special event service on the Northstar Commuter Rail Line.
Like any budget, there is some risk and uncertainty.
The cost of fuel and supplies is increasing. We can only make an educated guess about what ridership will look like in 2023. And we await an updated state forecast for Motor Vehicle Sales Taxes, our largest revenue source.
Much of what we are setting out to do also depends on our ability to hire operators, maintenance staff, police officers and other key positions.
We can expect our budget to change as we learn more and receive public feedback over the coming months. But this plan is a good start, and a thoughtful reflection of the goals and values found in our Strategic Plan.
More work lies ahead.
Our capital spending plan will be presented this fall, providing a six-year outlook for investments in our fleet and facilities. While details are still being worked out, we are encouraged that more federal funding will be available to use on important maintenance and expansion projects.
Our longer-term outlook also requires careful planning and consideration.
As we think beyond the next budget cycle, we must contend with the fact that we cannot repeatedly return to reserves and one-time federal relief funding, as we must do again this year.
Without a dedicated and stable source of tax revenues, we will face an operating budget deficit beginning in late 2026.
Grappling with our short- and long-term funding challenges is a complicated business. But our proposed budget demonstrates that we are being responsible stewards and making the most of the resources we’ve been given.
Thank you to the Finance Department and many others who are leading this important work, and to all of you who help carry out our plans year after year.
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The next phase of the Great Workplace Project – identifying actions that will improve work culture – is now getting underway.
To support this work, all represented and non-represented staff, from all departments and all levels of the organization, are invited to express their interest in joining implementation teams.
Seven teams will be formed, representing Capital Programs, Finance, Transit Police, Operations, Safety, Service Development and the Chief of Staff's Office.
Staff who are selected to join implementation teams will be asked to:
- Participate in a series of workshops (around five) through the end of the year
- Help identify priority issues and develop plans to establish explicit norms
- Engage co-workers in action plan development and support agencywide engagement events
Staff will be paid for the time they spend participating in this work, and schedules can be adjusted as needed.
If you are interested in participating, first speak with your manager. Then, sign up online or contact Sarah Berres, who is managing the Great Workplace Project. Applications should be submitted by Friday, Aug. 26.
Complete an Implementation Team interest form
Learn more about the Great Workplace Project on MetNet
Previously: All of us can help make Metro Transit a great place to work
When Jesus Llamas started as a part-time bus operator, he saw it as a job that would pay the bills while he sought a college degree from 2017 to 2020.
“I originally wanted to work in law enforcement,” Llamas said. “But after working in the field, I missed being a bus operator.”
He returned to transit in 2022 because, he says, “It’s one of the best places you can be for the benefits compared to any other place I’ve been, and the pay is great.” He even paid off all his debt by taking on overtime shifts.
And while he started at the bottom of seniority and needed to complete another six-month probation, he knows it’s worth it. He plans to make a career and retire from Metro Transit.
“This is just the start," Llamas said. "I plan to continue to improve my skills and someday move into different positions here."
Llamas is well on his way. At the end of July, he completed his six-month probation and was looking forward to decades of service and a career path he’s glad to be on.
We’re hiring
Nicollet Operator Martin Zapon-Gomez recently received a commendation for his customer service.
I was running a minute late and thought I was going to miss the bus but the driver waited the extra 30 seconds for me. I made to work on time. I really appreciate it!
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South Garage Operator Scott Wohnoutka, above left, and Nicollet Dispatcher Daniel Stearns, above right, were recently recognized for reaching their 30-year anniversaries. With them is Amina Wolf, acting deputy director-bus operations, Michael Pal, deputy chief operating officer-bus, and Brian Funk, chief operating officer.
Others who celebrated their 30-year anniversaries in August include:
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Paul Cruz, Stockkeeper
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Bruce Howard, Director of Marketing and Transit Information
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Daniel Abramowicz, Dispatcher-Ruter
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Carl Rice, Train Operator
To celebrate an anniversary, promotion, new hire or other milestone in Insights, please email insights@metrotransit.org.
Details matter. That’s among the many takeaways Emmanuel Blabuh is leaving with after spending his summer working with the Metro Transit Police Department as part of the Urban Scholars Program.
During his time with MTPD, Emmanuel visited every Metro Transit support facility to record where door labels needed to be applied. Labeling doors helps building users clearly and efficiently direct responders in the event of an emergency.
In addition to this work, Emmanuel and other Urban Scholars attended group classes on topics like diversity, equity and inclusion and self-care.
Reflecting on his experience, Emmanuel said he was struck by the attention to detail showed by co-workers in Asset Protection and the breadth of the Metropolitan Council/Metro Transit. He also appreciated learning more about what happens behind-the-scenes at a police department.
A graduate of Park Center Senior High School, Emmanuel returns this fall to the University of Minnesota, where he is perusing degrees in marketing and health care administration/management. His career aspirations are open-ended but working at Metro Transit has provided additional motivation to enter public service.
“Transit helps so many people, including people in my own family,” he said. “To work at a place like this and to be able to give back to people is something that definitely interests me.”
Eight Urban Scholars who worked across the Council will be recognized today, Friday, Aug. 19, at a graduation ceremony at Robert Street. The event begins at 1 p.m. in LLA. All are welcome.
Summer 2023 interns
Human Resources is accepting summer 2023 internship requests through Friday, Sept. 16. Approved positions will be posted in December.
Frontline Worker Pay: Individuals whose applications for Frontline Worker Pay were denied can appeal within 15 days of notification. Denial notification provides instructions about how to submit an appeal. If you submitted a claim, you can view the status at frontlinepay.mn.gov. About 18% of applications were denied, according to the state, mainly because officials could not verify IDs.
Veterans Partner in Transit: Two Metro Transit veterans will share their stories during a Thursday, Aug. 25, virtual event hosted by Veterans Partner in Transit (VPiT). VPiT is an Employee Resource Group for veterans. The speakers are: SCADA Communications Manager Perry Gunderson, a retired Master Sergeant in the Minnesota Army National Guard with 27 years of service, and Asset Protection Specialist Jonathan Kemp, who served in the U.S. Marine Corp from 2003 to 2007. For more information, contact Carri Sampson.
Replacement bus service continues: Replacement buses continue to operate between the Mall of America and Terminal 2 stations as testing of new rail systems work is completed. Light rail service has been unable to resume because contractor-led construction has taken longer than anticipated. Efforts to replace track and update technology used to guide train movements began in July. Light rail service will resume as soon as possible.
Lake Street grant: Hennepin County has received a $12 million federal grant that will be used to make improvements along a four-mile stretch of Lake Street. The improvements will be made in coordination with construction of the METRO B Line, a Bus Rapid Transit service that is expected to substantially replace Route 21 in 2024. Planned improvements include converting general purpose lanes to bus lanes, sidewalk enhancements, signal improvements and new pavement surface. Learn more at transportation.gov.
TikTok: Creative Services is planning to start a Metro Transit TikTok account. If you regularly use the social media service and have ideas to share, or would like to help create content, please contact Social Media Specialist Ryan Miller.
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