Metro Transit outlines layered safety plan, administrative citations and staffing gaps to Senate committee

Metro Transit officials told the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee on March 17 that a multi-layered safety and rider-experience action plan is being implemented across light-rail and bus rapid transit lines, but that staffing shortfalls in the Metro Transit Police Department and gaps in citation compliance are limiting immediate impact.

"Everyone who travels and works on our system deserves to have an experience that's safe, clean, and welcoming," said Jillian Linnell, chief of staff for Metro Transit, while presenting the transit safety and rider experience legislative report. The plan, adopted by the Metropolitan Council in June 2022, organizes more than 40 actions around improving conditions on the system, training and supporting employees, and engaging customers and partners.

Officials described several active layers of presence intended to improve safety: the Transit Service Intervention Pilot (TSIP), supplemental contracted security officers, the transit rider investment program (TRIP) — commonly called Trip agents — and the Metro Transit Police Department. The 2023 Legislature funded a one-year TSIP pilot; Metro Transit said the pilot partnered with 10 community organizations and contacted nearly 15,000 riders, with about 41% of those contacts resulting in service referrals (shelter and housing needs were the most common referral type). Metro Transit has a transition plan to continue community-based interventions beyond the pilot’s statutory end on June 30, 2024.

On fare enforcement, Metro Transit said the administrative-citation program (TRIP) launched in February 2024 and shifted fare inspections primarily to Trip personnel. As of December 2024, almost 60 Trip agents were on the system; Metro Transit said the number is now close to 70 and the 2025 budget aims for about 100 agents. Trip agents are trained to inspect fares, issue administrative citations, educate riders on the code of conduct, assist customers with mobility and wayfinding, provide outreach referrals (mental-health, substance-use and housing services) and administer naloxone.

Committee members pressed officials on several operational points. Senator Jasinski noted that the report showed 1,871 administrative citations issued in 2024 but receipts reported in the legislative materials were much lower; Metro Transit explained that citation issuance and resolution can lag and that 2024 collection totals do not map one-to-one with citations issued that year. Senator Jasinski said his arithmetic suggested roughly $54,950 should have been expected if every administrative citation carried the stated fee; Linnell and other officials said the agency is following up on collection and data reconciliation.

Senators also raised staffing and budget questions for the Metro Transit Police Department. Interim Chief Joe Datseth said the department had 109 full-time officers compared with a budgeted complement of 171, and described active recruiting and cadet/civilian programs to fill vacancies. Linnell said unused operating funds typically roll into the next year and are available for additional needs.

Metro Transit reported an overall 6% decline in reported crime citywide in 2024 compared with 2023 and said fare-inspection activity has increased fourfold since 2022. Agency leaders said it is still early in program implementation and that they continue to collect and evaluate performance data.

Committee members and Metro Transit officials agreed that increased, visible presence matters for riders’ sense of safety. Interim Chief Datseth described the Safety and Security Action Plan as "a game changer" for coordinating layers of presence. Several senators recounted personal experiences or expressions of concern about rider safety and urged continued expansion of Trip agents, supplemental security and police staffing.

Metro Transit invited follow-up and said it would provide requested budget and collection-detail follow-ups to committee members.