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Metropolitan Council approves January 2025 budget amendment; authorizes purchase contract for replacement and expansion buses
Summary
On Jan. 22 the Metropolitan Council approved a special January 2025 budget amendment that adjusts operating and capital budgets and passed a separate authorization to negotiate and execute a contract with Gillig LLC to buy 43 heavy‑duty buses, pending capital program approvals.
The Metropolitan Council on Jan. 22 approved a special January 2025 budget amendment and authorized Metro Transit to pursue the purchase of 43 heavy‑duty buses under a cooperative procurement.
Council Member Johnson presented business item 205‑002, the special January budget amendment, saying it makes changes to the regional administration and transportation operating budgets and to the transportation capital budget. The amendment adds nine full‑time employees to human resources to accelerate recruiting for Metro Transit, adjusts fare revenue assumptions for the council’s fare simplification policy, incorporates updated sales and use tax forecasts and adds project and pass‑through appropriations, including a $10,000,000 pass‑through to Hennepin County for a Blue Line Extension anti‑displacement program and $13,300,000 in sales tax for Green Line storage work.
“Therefore, Mr. Chair, it is the motion that the Metropolitan Council authorizes the 2025 Unified Budget, as amended,” Johnson moved. A second was recorded and the council conducted a roll call vote. Clerk Ginger called the roll and recorded affirmative votes for Johnson, Chambliss, Doctor, Carter, Pacheco, Liljegren, Morales, Lindstrom, Vento, Carter (second listing), Wolf and Sally. The chair announced the motion carried.
Separately, the council’s Transportation Committee brought business item 2025‑22 to authorize the regional administrator to negotiate and execute contract 25P211 with Gillig LLC to purchase 38 replacement and five expansion heavy‑duty buses under the Washington master contract, in an amount not to exceed $35,093,000. The council approved that authorization by voice vote after a motion and second.
Why this matters: the budget amendment adjusts staffing and revenue forecasts, adds pass‑through funding for an anti‑displacement program tied to the Blue Line Extension and advances capital purchases including bus fleet replenishment and storage work. The Gillig contract authorizes bus purchases that Metro Transit said will replace vehicles past useful life and support upcoming service changes.
Votes at a glance: • Item 205‑002, Special January 2025 budget amendment — Motion to authorize the 2025 Unified Budget as amended; roll call recorded; outcome: approved. • Business item 2025‑22 / Contract 25P211 — Motion to authorize negotiation and execution of a contract with Gillig LLC for up to $35,093,000 for 43 heavy‑duty buses; outcome: approved.
