From General Manager Lesley Kandaras
Next week, I and other leaders will visit several light rail stations so riders can tell us how we can better serve them.
The following week, all employees are invited to participate in our monthly series of Great Day in Transit events that get staff out of the office and onto transit to connect with riders and report issues that need to be addressed.
My personal commitment to riding every route we operate will continue until I reach my one-year mark as general manager this summer.
And, in 2024, a group of around 50 non-represented senior leaders are now also expected to take at least 40 transit rides before the end of October, with ride totals tied to their annual performance reviews. This expands a minimum ride requirement among Operations managers that's previously been in place.
This renewed focus on spending time on our system is for good reason: it helps ground us in what our riders and staff say are most important to them. We can't rely solely on what we hear through calls, emails, or social media -- we need to have direct experience using transit.
This is especially true for organizational leaders who have the greatest influence over where, when, and how our resources are used.
The value of spending time on transit has been reinforced many times in my own recent travels. To provide just a few examples:
- Riding Route 61, I heard from high school students who wished we could more proactively patrol stops in downtown St. Paul.
- On Route 755, I heard how people felt limited by the limited number of trips offered between downtown Minneapolis and Golden Valley.
- On Route 17, I was reminded of the importance of promptly clearing snow from all bus stops.
- During my regular visits to the Lake Street/Midtown Station, I've witnessed the positive impact security officers have had, as well as the persistent challenges that need to be addressed in coordination with neighborhood partners.
Experiences like these are a reminder of the vital role transit plays in our community and of just how meaningful even small changes can be to riders and employees who spend the most time on our system.
As we set the course for 2024 and beyond, I want to thank staff across the organization for resolving to spend time on transit and to drawing on these experiences as we work to make the experience on transit better for everyone.
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All employees are invited to join the next Employee Town Hall, which will be held virtually and in-person from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Jan. 10. To attend in person visit the North Loop Garage, Room 104.
The first half of the town hall will include transit-wide updates from General Manager Lesley Kandaras and other members of the leadership team. The second half will be an open Q&A period. Questions can be asked in-person, via the Teams chat, or submitted in advance using the below Form.
Submit your question(s) in advance
Download the poster for your worksite
Arrive a few minutes early to check out tables and resources from LOD, Great Workplace Project, and the Zero-Emission Bus Transition team.
Additional Employee Town Halls have been scheduled for the remainder of the first quarter. Upcoming dates include:
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Tuesday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m., Heywood Garage
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Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1 p.m., East Metro Garage
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Tuesday, Jan. 16, 3 p.m., Blue Line O&M
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Thursday, Jan. 18, 11:30 a.m., Gold & Purple Line Project Office
A full schedule of Employee Town Halls can be found on MetNet.
Questions? Contact Lindsey Geyer at lindsey.geyer@metrotransit.org.
  
Inside Metro Transit garages, cleaners like Sarah Olson take pride in cleaning our buses.
"Our buses get used by lots of people, so you know they're gonna get dirty," Olson said. "But when that bus goes out for service, it's clean because people like me take care of it."
Olson is a cleaner who returned to the workforce after years of being a stay-at-home mother. After her twins grew up, she looked for a good job and found one at Metro Transit.
"I looked at a lot of different jobs," she said. "And Metro Transit had better benefits and pay than others."
Beyond the benefits, Olson enjoys the variety of work and the autonomy being a cleaner affords her.
"I like being independent and I'm pretty much by myself when I'm cleaning," Olson said. "If I need help, however, there's always someone around I can reach out to."
Every day Olson cleans buses for customers, but wants to remind them that what they're seeing may just have occurred.
"A spill or bit of trash onboard is a snapshot in time," Olson said. "Just know that a cleaner will eventually take care of your bus."
We're hiring!
Bus Maintenance is in the process of hiring five cleaners and creating a pool of qualified individuals who could move into the position over the coming months. Technician applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis, and the department is currently filling manager, assistant manager and administrative assistant positions. Review all current job openings here.
This January, the Equity & Inclusion (E&I) team is working with the Minnesota Department of Health’s Safe Harbor division to display messaging on approximately 1,000 buses and trains explaining what to do if riders are experiencing exploitation or trafficking.
The campaign features four different messages in English, Somali, and Spanish. The interior cards are scheduled to be installed inside buses and trains next week.
Additional information from Safe Harbor can be found on E&I bulletin boards, or by contacting Rachel Cagle at rachel.cagle@metrotransit.org.
Learn more
In recognition of Human Trafficking Prevention month, the FTA is hosting a Wednesday, Jan, 24, webinar featuring agencies that have used resources from safety4transit.org to prevent crime and human trafficking. Register here
Early-career managers and non-mangers who are leading projects are invited to express their interest in joining APTA's Emerging Leaders program.
Emerging Leaders is a 10-month development program for professionals who have two to six years of industry work experience, including one to three years managing projects, tasks, or staff. The program is intended to help participants expand their industry knowledge and build connections.
Directors have been asked to solicit interest from their teams and advance one candidate from their area by Wednesday, Jan. 10. From there:
- Director-endorsed candidates will have until Wednesday, Jan. 17, to complete an application that will be reviewed by a committee including past program participants.
- The committee will select one nominee to be submitted to APTA by the Friday, Feb. 2, deadline.
Questions? Email brian.funk@metrotransit.org + kristin.thompson@metrotransit.org
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Left: Congratulations to Nicollet Operator Mursal Mire on eight years of safe driving. Mire is pictured with Assistant Transportation Manager Bob Brevig.
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Right: Nicollet Operator Hassan Nur celebrated their retirement on Wednesday, Jan. 3. Nur is retiring with 15 years of service, and is pictured with Assistant Transportation Manager Mary Johnson.
Reminder: East Metro Operator Tom Vang is retiring with 34 years of service. Celebrate with Tom at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12 at East Metro Garage. Read Tom's story in last week's Insights.
To celebrate an employee milestone, email insights@metrotransit.org.
Heywood Operator Stanton VanValkenburg recently received a commendation for their customer service.
I want to commend this driver for offering very good customer service. I was still struggling to get my bus card out of my bag and pay my fare when the bus arrived. The driver waited for me instead of pulling off. When I boarded, the driver thanked me for paying for my ride. I wasn’t on the bus for very long, but my driver was very courteous, personable, and easy to talk to. I know how difficult customer service jobs can be. I want to recognize this driver for being really nice and great at their job.
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Welcome to these new operators who recently completed training at the Instruction Center. Top left: Maurice Marshall, Amelia Smyth, and Louis Jones. Top right:Mohamed Hussein and George Coles. Bottom left: Mathias Mengesha, Steven Hendricks, Johhnny Seng, and Abdikafi Barqadle. Bottom right:Patricia Graves, Chantilia Henderson, and Marilyn Jackson.
Apply to be a train operator by January 15
Rail Transportation is seeking train operator applications through Monday, Jan. 15. New hires are eligible to receive hiring bonuses of up to $5,000. Learn more and apply here.
Attend a MentoringWorks info session: The MentoringWorks program is gearing up for this year's cohort. Learn more about the program and the mentor/mentee application process at an upcoming listening session. The first is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Applications for the program open Monday, Jan. 15. Questions can be directed to MentoringWorks@metc.state.mn.us.
Leadership inviting feedback at light rail listening sessions: Riders are invited to attend a series of listening sessions to provide feedback on our continued efforts to improve conditions on transit. The sessions will be attended by Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle, General Manager Lesley Kandaras, Police Chief Ernest Morales III, and Transportation Committee Chair Deb Barber, among others. The first event is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 9 More info here.
Participate in the next Great Day in Transit: All employees are invited to participate in the next Great Day in Transit on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Throughout the day, participants are encouraged to ride trains and buses to connect with riders and frontline staff. Sign up for a Great Day in Transit here. For more information, contact Jeremiah Cox at jeremiah.cox@metrotransit.org.
Attend the Marketing Lunch and Learn: Join the marketing team to learn more about the work they do, including promotions, recruitment product development, technology tools, revenue generation, and more. The virtual event is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 18 at noon. Contact Maria Cone at maria.cone@metrotransit.org for more info.
WTS fireside chat: Metro Transit and WTS Minnesota are hosting a fireside chat with General Manager Lesley Kandaras on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the North Loop Garage. The event is open to WTS members, which includes all Metro Transit employees. Register for the event here. For more information about WTS, email Carrie Desmond at carrie.desmond@metrotransit.org.
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