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Council makes progress on many fronts

As we prepare to close the books on another year, the members and staff of the Metropolitan Council are indeed proud of the progress that was made in important areas ranging from planning and parks to transit and water supply.

Over the last year, the Council:

• Worked closely with metro area communities as they prepared to update their local comprehensive plans, providing new web-based tools and conducting workshops that were attended by some 500 local officials, planners and consultants.
• Made significant strides in growing our transit system and easing traffic congestion, achieving the highest Metro Transit ridership in 22 years.
• Prepared to begin construction of the region’s second rail transit line in the Northstar corridor, and approved light-rail transit as the preferred mode for the Central Corridor between our two downtowns.
• Launched a “Go Greener” initiative at Metro Transit that includes the purchase of 150 hybrid electric buses, 164 standard diesel buses with the latest engine technology and the use of clean, renewable fuels by all of our diesel buses.
• Completed the first phase of work on a master plan for the development, protection and efficient use of our region’s drinking water supply.
• Joined with the Trust for Public Land to explore the idea of raising money from private sources to accelerate the acquisition of land needed for regional parks and trails.
• Established the goal of reducing energy costs of our wastewater treatment system 15 percent by 2010 and increasing our use of renewable energy.
• Held our property tax levy flat for the fourth consecutive year and moved into a newly renovated office building that will save the taxpayers $14 million over the life of the building.

“ During 2007, we will be reflecting on what has been accomplished in the last four decades and what lessons we have learned as a region. These lessons could be instructive as we seek solutions to the problems that lie ahead. ”

- Peter Bell

In 2007, we will observe the 40th anniversary of Council’s creation by the Legislature. During the year, we will be reflecting on what has been accomplished in the last four decades and what lessons we have learned as a region. These lessons could be instructive as we seek solutions to the problems that lie ahead.

Peter Bell

December 2006