Council seeks applicants for Transportation Advisory Board

Applications due at the end of August

Contact: Bonnie Kollodge
651.602.1357

ST. PAUL—Aug. 7, 2007—The Metropolitan Council is taking applications to fill two positions on the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB). The TAB is a 33-member body, composed of elected officials, representatives of government agencies involved in transportation issues, citizen members, and members who represent transportation modes, such as transit, freight and non-motorized modes.

The Council is looking for a “modal” representative to represent the interests of public transit. Also, a citizen representative on behalf of Precinct A, which includes Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Champlin, Columbia Heights, Corcoran, Dayton, Fridley, Greenfield, Hilltop, Independence, Loretto, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Medicine Lake, Medina, Osseo, Plymouth, Robbinsdale, Rogers, Spring Lake Park and Hassan.

The TAB helps ensure coordination and cooperation among the many agencies and local units of government responsible for transportation planning and encourages citizen participation.

The TAB advises the Council and Minnesota Department of Transportation on transportation issues involving the regional highway, public transit and airport systems, as well as bike and pedestrian facilities. It helps develop plans and programs to meet the transportation needs of the seven-county metro area. TAB also solicits, reviews and selects local, state and regional projects and programs in the metro area to receive federal transportation funding.

For more on the TAB, see www.metrocouncil.org/services/tab.htm. TAB districts are composed of two Metropolitan Council districts. (See a map of Metropolitan Council districts.)

Citizen members must reside in the TAB district for which they are appointed. Citizen and modal members of TAB cannot be elected officials or members of another metropolitan commission.
TAB meets monthly on the third Wednesday of the month. Members may also serve on one or more subcommittees, which meet as necessary.

The Metropolitan Council appoints the eight citizen members on the TAB, the two transit representatives and the representative for non-motorized transportation. The Council also appoints one of its own 16 members to TAB.

For an application contact Luanne Major by phone at (651) 602-1758 or by email: luanne.major@metc.state.mn.us, or download the MS Word application form from www.metrocouncil.org/about/TABApplication2007.doc

Questions about the TAB may be directed to TAB coordinator Kevin Roggenbuck by phone at (651) 602-1728 or by email: kevin.roggenbuck@metc.state.mn.us.

Applications are due by the end of the business day on Friday, Aug. 31, 2007.

The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the seven-county Twin Cities area. It runs the regional bus and light rail system, collects and treats wastewater, manages regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The Council is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the governor.