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Met Council details post‑COVID transit strategy and regional sales tax
Summary
Met Council staff outlined a three‑year transit vision adopted in 2025, described a new regional 1¢ sales tax (0.75¢ for transit) intended to replace general‑fund support, and previewed service changes emphasizing BRT, light rail and hourly suburban service.
Metropolitan Council staff described how a 2025 three‑year transit vision reshaped service priorities after COVID and explained funding changes enacted by the legislature. The council presentation said the region moved from substantial general‑fund support to a new 1¢ regional sales tax; 0.75¢ of that tax is directed to transit, with a majority flowing to the Met Council and Metro Transit to cover previously unfunded operating costs.
Brett Davis, regional administrator, described systemwide shifts: routes focused on commuter express service were reduced in favor of more frequent, all‑day options, more bus rapid transit (BRT) and upgrades to local corridors. He cited ridership figures and the composition of trips: about 160,000 rides per day across the system, with BRT now carrying roughly 20% of riders and local bus about half of trips. "A lot of our routes see that improvement both in terms of availability and frequency," Davis said, noting that microtransit zones and cross‑city BRT (examples: Bee Line/B Line, Gold Line) are central to the strategy.
Council staff said 2027 is a key implementation year (green line extension timing and contracting for other projects) and that operations and hiring timelines affect when full service changes will happen. County members pressed for clarity about downtown recovery, safety and the balance between coverage and frequency; the council said it will continue outreach and adjust solicitations as it reviews recent funding rounds.
