Feedback sought on Metro Transit plan to expand service, grow ridership

Network Now plan calls for 35% service expansion through 2027

Metro Transit is seeking public feedback on a service improvement plan designed to grow ridership, expand job access, and better meet the region's changing mobility needs.

The Metropolitan Council on Wednesday authorized the start of the public comment period on the plan, Network Now. After the comment period ends, staff will revise the plan and bring it back to the Met Council for adoption in early 2025.

Network Now outlines service changes Metro Transit would prioritize making through 2027. Fully implementing the plan would expand transit service by 35% and increase the number of jobs accessible within a 45-minute transit trip by 25%.

"Across our region, transit plays a critical role in connecting people, strengthening communities and improving lives," General Manager Lesley Kandaras said. "We are actively seeking feedback on this draft plan to ensure it will serve as a valuable roadmap as we strive to make our services more attractive and widely available."

Key changes proposed in Network Now include:

• Expanding service on more than 65 routes, including 15 routes that would have trips running at least every 15 minutes.
• Increasing light rail frequency to every 10 minutes (currently trains run every 12 minutes most of the day).
• Offering on-demand microtransit service in eight suburban areas, providing stronger connections to regular route transit.
• Serving areas without existing service by introducing 20 new bus routes.
• Adapting the region's express bus network to provide all-day service in key corridors.
• Adapting service to account for the opening of five new METRO lines that will be in service by the end of 2027 (the Gold Line, B Line, E Line, G Line and Green Line Extension).

The plan improves transit access across the region, including suburban communities that will be better served by fixed routes, METRO lines, and on-demand transit services.

"Transit helps people to move to where they need to be and helps our local businesses, which is important for our future growth and economic stability," Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt said. "We look forward to seeing transit become a stronger part of the transportation network in our city and in our surrounding communities."

Feedback sought through November 15

The draft Network Now plan was informed by feedback from riders, observed changes in ridership and travel behavior, and a commitment to providing equitable access to transit.

Additional feedback will be collected through in-person and virtual meetings, direct outreach to riders, government partners and community organizations, and an online comment form through Friday, Nov. 15. The first public meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 1, in Hopkins.

"We are making a significant investment in our transportation network, so it's essential that we listen and respond to riders, local partners and community members across the region as we plan for the future," said Transportation Committee Chair Deb Barber, who represents communities in the southwest metro.

Find the full schedule and signup for project updates at metrotransit.org/network-now.

Improvements come as ridership, workforce grow

The planned service improvements come as transit ridership continues to grow. Through the end of July, ridership has increased about 9% compared to last year. Average weekday ridership is 142,067.

Metro Transit has been gradually expanding service as more operators and support staff have been hired and is aggressively recruiting operators, maintenance staff, police officers and others to support future growth. Learn more about current openings at metrotransit.org/careers.

Contact: Drew Kerr, [email protected], 651-387-3928

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