Multiple operators for Metro Transit’s light rail system told lawmakers this week that they no longer feel safe at work.
Read MoreLight Rail Operators Say They No Longer Feel Safe at Work: ‘Am I Going to HCMC on a Gurney?’
Tag: Met Council
Minnesota Democrats Introduce $53 Million Omnibus Bill to Tackle Climate Change
Minnesota House Democrats on the Energy and Climate Finance and Policy Committee unveiled a $53 million omnibus bill this week to tackle climate change in the state. According to a House press release, the omnibus package incorporates elements of 16 different bills that have been introduced this session and is…
Read MoreMinnesota Democrat Wants $8 Million to Install Electric Car Charging Stations Across the State
A bill introduced in the Minnesota House Wednesday calls for $8 million in funding to assist with installing “public electric vehicle supply equipment” across the state. As The Minnesota Sun previously reported, the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council recently approved $4 million in funding for a shared electric-car program set to…
Read MoreMinnesota’s Met Council Approves $4 Million in Funding for Shared Electric Cars
The Twin Cities Metropolitan Council announced Friday that it has approved roughly $200 million in funding for transportation projects across the region, including $4 million for a new shared electric-car program. According to a press release, the Met Council allocates roughly $200 million to local transportation projects through its “Regional…
Read MorePoll Shows Minnesotans Have Concerns About Met Council, $15 Minimum Wage
The Center of the American Experiment surveyed Minnesotans on a number of timely political issues in the latest edition of Thinking Minnesota, including the state’s $1.5 billion budget surplus, $15 minimum wage ordinances, and the Metropolitan Council. As The Minnesota Sun has reported, both St. Paul and Minneapolis have passed…
Read MoreLight Rail Ridership So Low Minnesota Dems Introduce Bill to Reduce Fares to 25 Cents
Minnesota Senate Democrats recently introduced a bill that would lower Light Rail fares to 25 cents in an effort to increase transit ridership. As The Minnesota Sun has reported extensively, the Twin Cities Light Rail accounts for just 1.4 percent of all passenger miles, compared to the 95 percent of…
Read MoreTwin Cities Met Council Wants to Spend $2 Billion on an 11-Mile Streetcar
An amendment to the Twin Cities Met Council’s 2040 Transportation Policy Plan includes $2 billion in funding for a modern streetcar route that would be just 11 miles in length. The Met Council hosted a public hearing Wednesday for its Riverview Modern Streetcar project, which would stretch from Union Depot…
Read MoreMinnesota’s Republican-Controlled Senate Introduces 91 Bills, Seeks to Punish Sanctuary Cities
Minnesota’s Republican-controlled Senate hit the ground running Thursday by introducing 91 pieces of legislation. Many of the items correspond with the top five priorities Republicans outlined at a Tuesday press conference, though there were several noteworthy outliers. Senate File (SF) 80, for instance, would impose “aid reductions” on sanctuary cities…
Read MoreTwin Cities to Spend $1.2 Million to Protect Bus Drivers from ‘Epidemic’
The Twin Cities Metropolitan Council approved $1.23 million in funding last week to add barriers in buses that will protect drivers from potential threats. Earlier this year, local headlines were dominated by stories of bus drivers across the Twin Cities area being assaulted by deranged passengers. There were three attacks…
Read MoreNew Minnesota Coalition Likes Jeff Johnson’s Idea of Building State of the Art Bus System
A new coalition of business leaders that launched at the Minnesota Capitol Tuesday plans to lobby state lawmakers to support a “comprehensive transportation system,” which could include $120 million in transit improvements for Greater Minnesota. The group, calling itself “Keep MN Moving,” is co-led by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber, the…
Read MoreBike Lanes Take Up a Third of Minneapolis Roadways But Are Used by Only 2.5 Percent of Commuters
The Twin Cities Met Council plans to continue dumping money on additional bike lanes across the metro area, but a study published Friday by The Star Tribune found that city leaders are not being “forthright” about the proposal’s effectiveness. Writing for The Star Tribune, local marketing executive Doug Berdie decided…
Read MoreMinnesota Receives Approval to Begin Construction on $2 Billion Light Rail Extension
The Twin Cities Met Council announced Wednesday that it has received approval from the federal government to begin construction on its controversial $2 billion Light Rail extension. In a Wednesday press release, the Met Council announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has granted it a Letter of No Prejudice,…
Read MoreTwin Cities Met Council to Undergo Federal Review Over its Unelected Board
Minnesota’s Met Council is now under federal review by the U.S. Department of Transportation after facing years of criticism over its undemocratic structure. The Twin Cities Met Council consists of 17 unelected officials, including its chair, all of whom are appointed by the state’s governor to oversee several of the…
Read MoreFEATURE: How An Unelected Board of Officials is Deliberately Sabotaging Minnesota Commuters
It’s two hours before class starts, but Haley is already on the road. “I haven’t missed work or class because I always try to leave two hours before I start, just to make sure I get there on time,” she said. In one week, Haley estimates that she wastes up…
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