Metropolitan Council to hold State of the Region Event
February 4 at the Minneapolis Central Library
Contact:
Bonnie Kollodge
651.602.1357
ST. PAUL – Jan. 16, 2008 – Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell will highlight regional progress and discuss opportunities and challenges facing the Twin Cities area in his State of the Region 2008 address. The event will be held on Monday, February 4 at the Minneapolis Central Library.
At the State of the Region event, the Council will:
- Release the results of its annual metro residents survey.
- Issue its 2007 annual report.
- Display new mapping tools available to the public and decision makers through its recently upgraded website.
" The Council had much to be proud of in 2007,” said Chair Bell. “We secured federal funding to begin construction of the region’s first commuter rail line, began preliminary engineering on our second light-rail transit line and won a major federal grant to ease congestion in two other major corridors.
“In addition, we increased the use of clean, renewable fuels by our transit fleet and took delivery on the first 19 of 169 new hybrid electric buses. We partnered with the University of Minnesota on research to develop new energy sources. And we won state and national awards for our wastewater treatment efforts.”
The State of the Region event will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Library’s Pohlad Auditorium at 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m.; pre-registered guests may participate in docent-led tours of the library following the event.
Seating is limited, so please RSVP to 651-602-1140 or register online. All downtown transit routes serve the library. Directions, parking and transit information can be found on the library website.
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, coordinates regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The Council board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.
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