Metro Transit

What a ride! During the Minnesota State Fair’s 12-day run, we provided nearly 331,000 express and regular route rides to and from the fairgrounds, a 14% increase compared to last year’s State Fair ridership. This year’s ridership growth can partly be attributed to expanded State Fair Express Bus service – with more staff on hand, we carried fairgoers to and from six Park & Rides, including newly added sites in Maple Grove and Maplewood. About 100 extra buses were in operation every day of the fair while operators, maintenance staff and others helped board customers, collect fares, clean vehicles and facilities, and monitor operations. Amid the fair, we also supported several large special events, including four consecutive concerts at U.S. Bank Stadium and Target Field, and maintained the reliable regular route service people use every day for a variety of trip purposes. “These busy past few weeks underscore just how important transit is to our community,” Metro Transit General Manager Lesley Kandaras said. “Thank you to everyone who rode with us, and to all the staff who came together to provide convenient, reliable and environmentally sustainable transportation during one of the busiest times of year.”

We have been having some great conversations about public safety on transit during our first two Listening Sessions Tour events! The next time to meet and chat with General Manager Lesley Kandaras and Chief Operating Officer Brian Funk is tomorrow from 6 – 7:30 a.m. at Nicollet Mall Station. Hope to see you there! See the full schedule: https://lnkd.in/gZ5TnTff

"Often, we're told to put ourselves in someone else's shoes. But in certain moments, it's even more important to let that someone stand in ours." Thank you for your kindness, Jayne, and thank you CBS Evening News for doing such a wonderful job with this heartwarming story. https://lnkd.in/gp8sM8m8

When we say Metro Transit is a place where you can build a career, we mean it.   Just ask the latest graduates of our Leadership Academy, a development program that provides frontline workers an opportunity to gain experience as managers and supervisors they can then use to apply for full-time positions.   In addition to this on-the-job experience, participants are mentored and complete courses on leadership and other skills.   Our latest Leadership Academy graduates were celebrated earlier this month. Congratulations to:   - Sabir Ahmed. A bus operator who immigrated from Bangladesh 20 years ago, Sabir served as an assistant transportation manager.  - Chris Flahavan. Chris served as a rail transit supervisor in the Rail Control Center and now moves into the role full-time. He previously served as a revenue technician.  - James Running. James also served as a rail transit supervisor and has since moved into a full-time supervisor position. He previously served as a train operator.  Want to work somewhere that supports your career development? We’re hiring! https://lnkd.in/gQSUVTb5

Progress! Earlier this week, crews installed a METRO B Line shelter at the corner of West Lake Street and East Bde Maka Ska Parkway, the first B Line shelter to appear west of Hiawatha Avenue. When complete, there will be 33 new stations across the nearly 13-mile B Line corridor. Stations are expected to open to customers in December 2024; features like on-demand heat, real-time signs, and ticket machines will be added before the B Line largely replaces Route 21 in June 2025. Elsewhere in the B Line corridor, crews are working on sidewalks, curbs, new concrete medians, and resurfacing sections of roadway to provide a new, smoother pavement surface. Learn more about upcoming construction activities and sign-up for email updates at https://lnkd.in/gEFGDYsn

Let's keep the conversation going! Following our inaugural Listening Sessions Tour earlier this year, Metro Transit leaders are holding another round of public listening sessions at six METRO Blue and Green line stations. General Manager Lesley Kandaras and Chief Operating Officer Brian Funk invite you to share your comments, thoughts, and feedback on efforts to improve public safety on transit through our Safety & Security Action Plan. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/dJhH-Fdc

This September, we invite everyone to celebrate Car-Free MSP by pledging to take at least one car-free trip. Take your Car-Free MSP pledge here: https://lnkd.in/gwuchG8f For inspiration, we introduce you to Planner Raymond Eliot, who supports our efforts to create more bike-friendly transit facilities and largely gets around by biking, taking transit, and walking. Why do you choose to bike and use transit? It's a combination of pragmatism, habit, and making time for what I enjoy. My partner and I share a car, and her work requires her to drive to places where taking transit isn't feasible. Taking the bus or biking is also a lot cheaper than paying for gas and parking, and just about as convenient and timely as driving. What do you enjoy most about your commute? Biking allows me to see things I’d miss if I were driving. As for the bus, I enjoy the comfort and unstructured time. Traveling by car means focusing on the road and that’s time you don't really get back. When you’re on the bus, you can do what you want. What is your favorite way to get around? A lot of my work is focused on the areas around stops and stations. So, from that perspective, I get the most enjoyment out of walking because it allows me to see what our riders see when they’re waiting for a bus or train and when they’re entering or exiting our system.

Apply today as a Metro Transit bus operator! You’ll earn $28.84 per hour to start – even during training – with annual pay increases, outstanding benefits, and a state pension. If you work second or third shift, you’ll earn up to $30.86 per hour. That’s on top of a $5,000 bonus if you have your CDL (with passenger endorsement and no air brake restriction) or a $3,000 bonus for those without a CDL. Veterans! We are approved to offer VA Benefits. Learn more about GI Bill® benefit eligibility when you apply. Learn more and apply now at https://lnkd.in/gU9w4xA3

More than 50 new bus operators were joined this week by family members and co-workers as they celebrated the successful completion of their initial training. Please join us in wishing them well in their new roles. And if you’re ready to join the team that keeps the metro moving, we’re hiring. Paid training is available to those who need to earn a Commercial Drivers License, and all new hires are eligible for bonuses, competitive benefits, and guidance from mentors, trainers, and other support staff. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/d5ZkFMHf

It's been two years since we implemented our Safety & Security Action Plan, which outlines more than 40 actions aimed at improving conditions on transit, supporting employees, and strengthening connections with our partners. Our work continues. But we are seeing an encouraging drop in reported crimes as ridership continues to rise. Comparing the second quarter of this year to the second quarter of 2023, reported crime was down 17.5%. To build on the progress we’ve made, we’re bringing more Transit Rider Investment Program Agents onboard this fall and look forward to welcoming our next class of police officers later this month. We’re also putting more resources toward cleaning vehicles and boarding areas and will continue working closely with service providers who are expert in issues like substance abuse disorders that affect our entire community and become visible on transit. As always, we welcome your feedback. Catch General Manager Lesley Kandaras and Police Chief Ernest Morales III at a light rail station later this month and contact us any time at [email protected]. Thank you for your patience and support as we work to keep moving in the right direction. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gNRpAKi6