Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities

Last Friday, Chair Charlie Zelle and Council Member Toni Carter participated in ReConnect Rondo's 2024 #ReconnnectingCommunitiesSummit to discuss the importance of transformative investments in communities and ways to ensure that those impacted by development have a seat at the table when it comes to decision making.

Your voice matters. Our draft regional development guide, Imagine 2050, is available for public comment. Imagine 2050 provides policies for how the region can plan and interact with land, transportation, water, housing, and parks and trails, and seeks to address climate, equity, and public health issues. We want your input on how these policies will impact your ability to thrive in the region, and whether these plans are headed in the right direction. Provide your input anytime between now and October 7. Learn more and comment: https://lnkd.in/gUTfJjMH

Applications are open to volunteer on our paratransit appeals panel! ? The Met Council facilitates an appeal process for individuals who have either been denied eligibility for Metro Mobility or those whose Metro Mobility service has been suspended due to conduct or “no-show” violations.? We are seeking individuals who have a professional background in working with people with disabilities to volunteer to serve on a three-person panel for these appeals. Applying to be in the database does not commit you to serving on a panel. When a hearing is needed, we will reach out to individuals in the database who may be a good fit for that panel based on the disability of the particular appellant. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gkpw5aqm For our initial review period, please apply by October 1. However, applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.?

We've been honored to have a talented cohort of interns join us the past few months for the opportunity to learn more about the work we do throughout the region and further develop their skills. Here are just a few of the faces joining us this summer: Juanjo Palos (he/him) is a wellness intern with the Fit for Life team in the Regional Administration division. Juanjo’s work with the Fit for Life team has helped keep the more than 4,000 Met Council staff members healthy through programs designed around nutrition, movement, stress management, and more. Hoang P. (she/her) is a content management intern with Metro Transit. One project Hoang has been working on this summer is testing the usability of the Met Council’s intranet, ensuring that all staff are able to easily access company-wide information. She has enjoyed meeting with managers and staff to understand their perspectives and experiences.? Devin Rhoades (he/him) is an Environmental Services geographic information systems (GIS) intern. His time with the Met Council this summer has included updating maps for the Metro region. Devin said it has been fun to visit different Met Council and Metro Transit facilities to assist with his projects.? Kelunda Moore (she/her) is a Safety Intern with Metro Transit. One of her main responsibilities is to visit construction sites along the Green Line Extension transitway and check that proper personal protective equipment is worn and help ensure the safety of those working on the line. Kelunda said that it has been nice to get her hands on a lot of different projects this summer.

Our Metro HRA is celebrating 20 years of being recognized with a High Performer Status under the Section 8 Management Assessment Program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In the past 20 years, our team has issued $1 billion to over 1.5 million households using housing vouchers, having a 90% or above accuracy rate for verifying income and calculating rent shares to keep rent affordable for tenants. With a total of 478 years of experience across the Metro HRA team, we're committed to providing safe and affordable housing opportunities throughout the region. Learn more about the work we do: https://lnkd.in/g6em7w6V

Last week, Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle and Council Member Anjuli Cameron met with Hopkins Mayor Patrick Hanlon and U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Administrator Geri Sanchez Agilpay in Hopkins to discuss development surrounding light rail investments. Since 2009, over a third of the development in the metro region occurred within a half mile of high-frequency bus and rail transit. That translates to new homes, businesses, and community-building sites throughout our region connected through accessible means of transportation. Development surrounding transit routes helps support walkable and sustainable communities as the Twin Cities area continues to grow and thrive. Photos courtesy of U.S. Small Business Administration, Minnesota District Office.

Several people leading the Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) were recently recognized by the Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Committee. TRIP Manager Leah Palmer was recognized for her efforts to stand up the program after it was authorized through state legislation in 2023. This included securing equipment, developing policies, procedures and training, bringing on TRIP Agents through a contract with Allied Universal, providing field support and supervision, and working with union leadership to establish a represented TRIP Agent position. Shift supervisors, Alec, Ali, and Delante were celebrated for their work leading TRIP Agent teams. TRIP Agents began working on light rail in February 2024, educating light rail riders about the Code of Conduct, offering directions, ensuring all riders have valid fares, and providing other assistance. To date, TRIP Agents have had more than 104,000 rider contacts. Another 22 TRIP Agents, the first to be directly hired by Metro Transit, are expected to begin early this fall. Around 800 applications were received when those positions were recently posted.

Making housing affordable for all isn’t just about funding affordable housing itself, it takes thoughtful policy changes that support development that matches the demand. We’re excited to announce we are recipients of a $4 million PRO Housing grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to improve affordable housing activities within our growing region. The grants will support city and county efforts to provide affordable housing opportunities for those with the lowest income levels. The grants will support local efforts to eliminate barriers to affordable housing production and preservation, such as updating local regulations and zoning ordinances. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gtvFjzSz

This year, we're proud to raise the Pride flag outside of three of our flagship facilities for this last week of June. We're committed to ensuring that everyone in our organization and within our region is welcome and have the support they need to thrive.

Over the last two weeks, we hosted a delegation of public officials from 25 countries around the world, who visited the Twin Cities to learn how our state addresses sustainability. Chair Chalie Zelle, General Manager Lesley Kandaras, and Council Member Peter Lindstrom shared ideas on regional planning, transit infrastructure and service, and the benefits of water resource protection as an asset for communities.