Metro Transit

We have a bold vision for the future of transit in our region.   This includes opening new transitways, expanding service on popular routes, adapting our express network to provide more all-day service in key corridors, and offering on-demand microtransit services in suburban areas.    These and other ideas are captured in Network Now, our plan to improve service through the end of 2027.  Before bringing our final plan to the Metropolitan Council for adoption early next year, we are inviting comment through in-person and virtual meetings and an online survey.   The first of several meetings will be held tonight (October 1) in Hopkins. Learn more about this and other events, review our draft plan in greater detail, and find a link to our Network Now survey here: https://lnkd.in/gNHKpb8n

Operator Teron Hess says someone from Metro Transit saves a life every day. He says he knows because it saved his.

Oh fer cute! Thank you to rider Catherine who sent us this photo of her 2-year-old son, a transit admirer who insists on taking the bus or train whenever possible and enjoys taking in the sights at the Mall of America Transit Station. On Tuesday evening, train operator Hassan I. gave the boy the thrill of his young life by inviting him into the cab of his train to take in the view and ring the bell. “The operator’s kindness and generosity will stay with us forever,” Catherine said. Have a positive experience we should know about? Drop us a line at [email protected] or online here: https://lnkd.in/gAuhGW6Q

In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we invite you to get to know Public Facilities Worker Angel Rodriguez, whose family hails from Puerto Rico. Tell us a little bit about your background I was born in Chicago to Puerto Rican parents and moved back and forth between there and Puerto Rico until 2000 when I moved to the island with my own family and lived there for 18 years. I worked a seasonal job setting up trade shows and as a handyman. In 2017, Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, which changed everything. My wife needed medical attention and wasn’t going to be able to get it on the island, so we came to the Twin Cities. I began applying and praying for jobs and Metro Transit called first. We weren’t planning to stay but everything went so well we decided to stay and start all over. We are here with my three sons. My oldest, Darren, also works for Metro Transit as a public facilities worker. How do you experience Puerto Rican culture in Minnesota? In the beginning, it was hard. We couldn’t find a lot of the food products we use but eventually found a Chinese market in Brooklyn Center with things like yam, yuca, coconut, and green pigeon peas. We celebrate cultural festivals with a platter of rice mixed with green gandules verdes, which are green pigeon peas, roasted pork, and a side of pasteles, which resemble tamales but are made with green bananas and a choice of meat wrapped in banana leaves. It hasn’t been easy, but we are thankful to be here and the opportunity to be part of Metro Transit. I consider Metro Transit to have been a blessing for us. Working here allows me to support my family. What are some differences between Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, and the mainland United States? Puerto Rico is not stable, jobs are few, and the weather is very hard. Here, you’re able to grow and have better opportunities. That’s why we decided to stay in Minnesota. #HispanicHeritageMonth #PuertoRicanCulture #MetroTransit

With more than 4.2 million rides systemwide, August was our busiest month of the year (so far)! Here’s a quick look at where we’re sitting through the first 8 months of 2024: - More than 31.5 million total rides have been provided through the end of August, up about 8.5% compared to last year. - We’ve provided 21.3 million bus rides, up 9% over last year. Ridership on our bus rapid transit lines is up 19% and the METRO Orange Line just had its busiest month ever, with more than 51,200 rides. - More than 10.2 million rides have been taken on the Green and Blue lines, up 8% over last year. - Northstar ridership has nearly doubled, totaling more than 86,000 rides year to date. As always, we appreciate you for riding with us and are committed to providing services that meet your needs. Review and comment on our plans to adapt and improve service in the years ahead at https://lnkd.in/gNHKpb8n

How about a round of applause for our operators? And another one. And another one. On Tuesday, some of our newest bus operators were recognized for completing their initial training. On Wednesday, we celebrated some of our top performing and longest-serving operators for reaching career milestones. And today we applauded operators who recently completed our industry-leading bus operator apprenticeship program, an achievement that recognizes the tremendous skill required to be a professional operator. Collectively, these celebrations are a reminder that we admire the accomplishments and value the contributions of all our frontline transit workers, at every stage of their career. Are you looking to join an organization that appreciates, supports, and celebrates you? We’re hiring. Learn more about about available positions and how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/gQSUVTb5

There’s no better way to know how we can better serve you than to meet you where you are. That’s why staff from across the organization continue to spend at least one day a month at stations and on vehicles meeting riders, noting repair needs, and showing their support for frontline transit workers. Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts with us on Wednesday. We’ll be using everything we heard and saw to make tangible improvements to our system. And remember that you can share your thoughts with us any time. Learn more about providing feedback on our service, facility conditions, and more here: https://lnkd.in/gaEdt4yQ

New bus lane alert! Work to install new bus lanes began earlier this month on portions of Hennepin and Lyndale avenues, where buses are often delayed by traffic. These dedicated lanes will give buses a clearer path coming in and out of downtown Minneapolis, getting 3,000 daily customers on routes 4 and 6 to their destinations faster and more reliably. The lanes are being installed in partnership with the City of Minneapolis. Bus lanes are also being added this year to sections of Hennepin and First avenues northeast, Lagoon Avenue, and Lake Street. These lanes will become key features of two new bus rapid transit lines opening in 2025, the METRO E Line and METRO B Line. Learn more about ongoing efforts to improve transit speed and reliability across the region here: https://lnkd.in/gN_xPW9H

Help shape our plans to improve service in the coming years! Now through Nov. 15, we’re seeking input on Network Now, our vision to grow ridership, expand job access, and better meet the region’s changing mobility needs. Network Now outlines the service changes we’d prioritize making through 2027. Fully implementing the plan would expand transit service by 35% and increase the number of jobs accessible within a 45-minute transit trip by 25%. Among the key changes included in our draft plan: Expanding service on more than 65 routes, including 15 routes that would have trips running at least every 15 minutes. Increasing light rail frequency to every 10 minutes. Offering on-demand microtransit service in eight suburban areas. Serving areas without existing service by introducing 20 new bus routes. Adapting the region’s express bus network and provide all-day service in key corridors. Adapting service to account for the opening of five new METRO lines that will be in service by the end of 2027 (the Gold Line, B Line, E Line, G Line, and Green Line Extension). Feedback is being collected through an online comment form and several upcoming events. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gNHKpb8n

We’re committed to making data-driven decisions that improve performance and add up to a better experience for our customers and staff.       To do that effectively, we rely on staff from our research, data, and analysis team, who were recently recognized at a Metropolitan Council meeting for their collective efforts. Please join us in celebrating:       Matt Broughton, a principal data scientist who specializes in using data to improve the speed and reliability of our light rail lines.   Kara Fisher, a senior data scientist focused on performance metrics.  Shanta Hejmadi, PhD, a senior data scientist and resident expert on workforce data.   Rachael Jones, a senior researcher who uses her social science skills to help us better understand customer and employee sentiment. Joey Reid, a principal data scientist who works on bus speed and reliability and the impact of planned service changes. Sadixa S., a data scientist who supports the data we review and report out through the Safety & Security Action Plan.       Thank you also to Senior Manager Rachel Dungca, who leads the group’s work to expand our use and understanding of data.       We’ll be regularly sharing data on on-time performance, customer satisfaction and more as we work to advance our strategic framework, Metro Transit Forward.