Metropolitan Council appoints members to Transportation Advisory Board

Contact: Bonnie Kollodge
651.602.1357

ST. PAUL—Dec. 20, 2011—The Metropolitan Council has approved seven appointments to the region’s Transportation Advisory Board (TAB), including

Gerry Butcher of Champlin;
Tom Heffelfinger, Eden Prairie;
Jennifer Janovy, Edina;
Kenya McKnight, Minneapolis;
Aaron Isaacs, Minneapolis;
David Van Hattum, Minneapolis and
Ethan Fawley of Minneapolis.

Four of the appointments serve geographic areas. Three of the appointments serve at-large on behalf of the interests of public transit and non-motorized transportation.

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, including transit and freight and non-motorized modes.

“The TAB plays a key role in advising and guiding Council investments in transit and transportation,” said Council Chair Susan Haigh. “I am so pleased to have had the caliber of applicants we did and to be adding the experience, expertise and perspective to the TAB that these new appointees lend.”

Council appointments to TAB:

Gerry Butcher – TAB District A (Council Districts 1 and 2)
Mr. Butcher worked for the cities of Maple Grove and Brooklyn Center and with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. TAB District A includes the Hennepin County cities of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Corcoran, Dayton, Greenfield, Independence, Loretto, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Medicine Lake, Medina, Osseo, Plymouth, Robbinsdale and Rogers, and the town of Hassan, and the Anoka County cities of Columbia Heights, Fridley, Hilltop and Spring Lake Park.
Tom Heffelfinger – District B (Council Districts 3 and 4)
Mr. Heffelfinger is a partner in the Best & Flanagan law firm and served as a U.S. Attorney from the District of Minnesota. TAB District B includes the Hennepin County cities of Chanhassen, Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, St. Bonifacius, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata, and Woodland, Carver County and Scott County, except for New Prague.
Jennifer Janovy—TAB District C (Council Districts 5 and 6)
Ms. Janovy is chair of the Edina Transportation Commission, a member of the Bike Edina Task Force and a board member of the League of Women Voters Edina. TAB District C includes the southwest portion of Minneapolis and the Hennepin County cities of Bloomington, Crystal, Edina, Golden Valley, New Hope, Richfield, St. Louis Park and the unorganized territory of Fort Snelling.
Kenya McKnight*—TAB District D (Council Districts 7 and 8)
Ms. McKnight is a program officer with the Nothside Economic Opportunity Network. TAB District D includes most of the City of Minneapolis, except for the southwestern portion.
Ethan Fawley – Non-motorized Transportation Representative
Mr. Fawley is the Transportation Policy Director with Fresh Energy and a representative on the Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee. The bicycle and pedestrian transportation advocate is appointed to serve at-large from anywhere in the seven-county metro area.
David Van Hattum*–Transit Representative
Mr. Van Hattum is a program manager with Transit for Livable Communities. He also held leadership posts with I-494 Commuter Services and the Downtown Minneapolis TMO. The public transportation advocate is appointed to serve at-large from anywhere in the seven-county metro area.
Aaron Isaacs—Transit Representative
Mr. Isaacs had a long history with Metro Transit operations and as a volunteer with the Minnesota Transportation Museum. The public transportation advocate is appointed to serve at-large from anywhere in the seven-county metro area.

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

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.

More information on TAB.

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 members to TAB.

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

Editor’s Note: This is a reappointment for TAB members McKnight and Van Hattum, who were very recently appointed to fill vacancies on the TAB for seats whose terms were about to expire.

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