St. Paul - July 13, 2012 – Tasked in statute with planning for the future of the Twin Cities Region, the Metropolitan Council is asking for public input before writing the first draft of the 2040 plan, dubbed Thrive MSP 2040. Among a variety of opportunities for public participation, the Council is launching one of the first government-hosted crowdsourcing websites in the state of Minnesota at http://yourideas.metrocouncil.org/.

“Our region is growing, aging, and becoming more diverse,” said Council Chair Susan Haigh. “We need to hear directly from residents of the region about their preferences and how these changes impact their lives as we plan for the future and work to ensure prosperity for all.”

“Public meetings are not convenient for everyone.  Increasingly, the best way to get people to participate in government is to create opportunities that allow them to participate from their workplace, home computer or mobile device at a time that works for their schedule – whether that’s the middle of the day or night. The YourIdeas portion of the Thrive MSP 2040 website does just that.”

Haigh summarized the Thrive planning effort, “Our vision is to work together as one region to build 21st century regional infrastructure to produce robust local communities, support job growth, and connect people to their workplaces, schools, activities, and the places they call home. To do that, we need participation from as many residents as possible.”

Residents will have opportunities to participate via traditional means of in-person community meetings, contact with staff and Council Members, and written correspondence, in addition to new opportunities provided by social media and the Council’s online crowdsourcing platform.

Council Members will hold public listening sessions in August and September for residents who wish to share their thoughts in person. Meeting dates and details for online participation and additional information are available at www.thrivemsp.org.

The purpose of the plan is to establish a foundation of policies that help the region and its residents thrive during the next 30 years. Thrive MSP 2040 builds on the principle that together the region can tackle challenges that individual communities may not be able to take on alone. The Council is launching the initial stage of outreach on Thrive MSP 2040 this summer to gather ideas from residents, local officials, industry experts and anyone else interested in participating. Substantial additional outreach will be conducted as the plan is drafted and before its expected adoption by the Council in early 2014.

The regional plan will serve as an important policy foundation for the Council’s system plans and other policy plans. Policies developed during this process include those relating to land use, parks and open spaces, transportation and transit, water supply, regional resource sustainability, and housing.

Follow Thrive MSP 2040 online!                       

The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Council runs the regional bus and light-rail system and Northstar commuter rail, collects and treats wastewater, coordinates regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income families. The Council board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.