Metropolitan Council adopts long-term transit funding allocation and passes 2025 budget amendments; chair announces interim leadership

The Metropolitan Council on Sept. 10 adopted a revised transit funding allocation policy, approved a 2025 unified budget amendment that reallocates federal and local dollars and adds capital funding for transit projects, adopted the 2026–2029 Transportation Improvement Program and several housing and land‑use actions, and heard the announcement that Council member Deb Barber will serve as interim chair.

The council voted to adopt FM12‑3, the updated transit funding allocation policy, which sets how federal, regional sales tax and other funds will be distributed among Metro Transit and suburban transit providers and increases federal allocations to the University of Minnesota transit system. Council members said the policy gives suburban providers and Metro Transit long‑range predictability and noted the policy reflects a projected combined $3.8 billion in funding to suburban providers from 2026 through 2050 and an approximately 11% increase above current projections.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said the allocation policy provides a predictable 25‑year framework that will let transit providers develop 2026 budgets and capital plans. Council member Deb Barber, who presented the item, said adopting the policy “enables transit providers to develop 2026 budgets and future capital plans based on clear policy direction and increased certainty for future funding levels.” Several council members urged continued attention to transparency and administrative cost questions raised by some suburban providers.

The…