Metro Transit managers told the Metropolitan Council that their proposed 2026 operating budget would advance Metro Transit Forward, the agency’s strategic framework, and is supported in large part by a regional sales tax that went into effect in October 2023.

The presentation matters because the sales tax provides a multi-year revenue base and the budget funds near-term service expansions, public-safety measures and preparations for major projects such as the Green Line extension in 2027.

Leslie Kenderas, General Manager of Metro Transit, said the proposed budget “advances and aligns with this strategic framework.” She told the Council that the agency is adapting to post-pandemic travel patterns and is opening three new bus rapid transit lines this year: the Gold Line (launched in March), the B Line (launched in June) and the Metro E Line (scheduled for December). Metro Transit staff said they are also preparing for the Green Line extension launch in 2027.

Kristen Prescott, interim finance director for Metro Transit, summarized the numbers and said the transportation operating budget presented to the Council is $1,051,000,000. Prescott noted that state revenues account for approximately 73% of the transportation budget in the slides and that salary and benefits and contracted services are major cost categories. The overall Council budget figure cited in the presentation was $1,800,000,000 with a property-tax levy of $98,000,000, a 2% increase over the prior year, according to staff remarks.

Staff highlighted several division-level priorities for 2026: public safety (including the trip program and supplemental security), Network Now service expansion, cleaning and maintenance, and preparations for the Green Line extension. For Metropolitan Transportation Services (MTS), staff listed special transportation services and Network Now microtransit and noted MTS manages fixed-route contracts operated by other providers and ongoing regional transportation planning.

On special transportation services (Metro Mobility and Metro Move), staff said 2026 is the first budget year since 2021 with no federal pandemic relief funds. They reported $2,900,000 in funding from the Department of Human Services for Metro Move, projected fares of about $6,500,000 for Metro Mobility, and ridership for the special transportation program projected at about 91% of pre-COVID levels in 2026. Staff also said fuel assumptions are $3.55 per gallon and that fuel-line costs are down about 10% from the 2025 adopted budget.

Staff told the Council that Metro Mobility and Metro Move recently transitioned to a state-forecasted program on July 1, 2025; reporting for that program will begin in the fall and staff said the change is intended to eliminate the need to seek an annual legislative appropriation to support those services.

Earlier in the meeting the Council temporarily reopened the public hearing on the Transportation Policy Plan so that a commenter who had requested time in advance could speak. The motion to reopen the public meeting was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. A commenter who identified himself as Mark (a radio and television worker) urged the Council to investigate autonomous-vehicle programs and said curfews and late-night transportation options affected his travel; he suggested autonomous vehicles could expand mobility options if safety and access issues are addressed. The Council closed the hearing later in the presentation and staff reminded the public that written comments on the Transportation Policy Plan amendment would be accepted through 5 p.m. on Aug. 27.

No formal Council action on Metro Transit’s operating budget or the Transportation Policy Plan amendment was taken during the presentation; staff said they would be available to answer follow-up questions and will return with further materials as needed.