Metropolitan Council

The Met Council and the next pandemic.

Nearly everyone acknowledges that the lack of housing available for people of low and middle income is one of the most serious problems facing the Twin Cities today. Experts use…

The Metropolitan Council is on a crusade to “densify” the Twin Cities, and that means reorganizing our metro area around public transit. The Council’s guiding principle is “transit-oriented development." But…

It was supposed to be a done deal. The resolution to make Plymouth Minnesota’s newest “GreenStep City” was slipped into the city council’s consent agenda, clearing the way for expected…

Democrats on the Minnesota House of Representatives Energy and Climate Finance and Policy Division Committee have dropped a 78-page omnibus bill that is chalk full of energy-illiterate language. I’ve summarized…

The Politics of beer

Gov. Mark Dayton has approved large pay increases for 22 government officials, including 7 employees of the Metropolitan Council, who already make well over $100,000 per year. This is why…

American Experiment campaign highlights that the Met Council and MnDOT have no plan to relieve congestion. In fact, they like it.

The Twin Cities face a chronic shortage of affordable housing. But not the kind activists like to talk up. There’s nowhere near enough affordable new starter homes for middle class buyers on…

Most of the focus on potential gubernatorial vetoes concerns the tax and spending bills just sent to Gov. Mark Dayton’s desk. Yet another measure before the governor also faces a…

As costs continued to rise for Southwest Light Rail Transit, the Metropolitan Council sounded a warning in a federal filing this week that its ongoing dispute with a regional railroad…

"Congressional intent is that any MPO who’s structure changes in order to adhere to federal law, will be given a transition period. This amendment does not put in jeopardy any…

In the last two weeks, our ever-expanding Metropolitan Council announced that it intends to become the owner of a rail corridor in order to facilitate the construction and operation of…

Lawmakers are frustrated. They cannot get enough funding for roads. Why? MnDOT has been captured by the “multi-model” approach to mobility championed by the Metropolitan Council, our mega regional planning…

In light of the most recent developments, legislators and others are asking, is the Met Council even qualified to safely operate both freight and passenger light rail trains adjacent to…

Gov. Dayton vetoed the last attempt by legislators to get the Metropolitan Council in line. But lawmakers are back with a vengeance, picking up where they left off this week…

Distrust of the council arises from a governance structure that allows this unelected body to exercise power over 3.5 million metro residents with little to no accountability. The council, reporting…

Dear Friends, As always, we have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving, starting with the fact that we live in America. Our country has delivered more freedom to more…

For all I know, the FTA’s New Starts grant program tells applicants, “Lie to me, tell me what I want to hear so I can give you the billions in…

“Metropolitan Council staff told us they use one set of assumptions (based on historical state and local funding) when preparing their federal transportation financial plans, and different assumptions (based on…

“Metropolitan Council staff told us they use one set of assumptions (based on historical state and local funding) when preparing their federal transportation financial plans, and different assumptions (based on…

Compared to its peers, the Twin Cities' economy is only middling

7 Things the legislature didn't do, but should.

So why did the Council step up and make a reasonable rate increase now? Answer: They are flying out to DC to lobby Congress and the FTA/DOT on a regular…