[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6283106,"mediaKeyId","2589388-8ce5a79902a6e65e368edc5f63f8f8d9","parentId",2589388,"title","Votes at a glance: Met Council approves bond authorizations, Cubic fare-system amendment, G Line corridor plan and other items","audioSeconds",213,"startMs",655000,"endMs",868000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589388-8ce5a79902a6e65e368edc5f63f8f8d9&start=655&end=868","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589388-8ce5a79902a6e65e368edc5f63f8f8d9/thumbnail_655000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6283106/Minnesota/Votes-at-a-glance-Met-Council-approves-bond-authorizations-Cubic-fare-system-amendment-G-Line-corridor-plan-and-other-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283106-0c94a0202147579fe8697a9df40a98cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570826&Signature=KPgA-opuuO1yCF6dIDQA~5v7ECATDrXxi6MtfUFY7Ab5kGD39-REP-SVp~G9hgLlMbrBeWewEtv~TQ2X9Gow3GqjjCjwjSWRfkbtPNh9a~Mn6AOx-CytepMe46YHRB342-qeztV621iOmgVfyJUCvuBil2ljMr2Pn-ykGbYflmDZNy-8wZSoOG2ZISBaDRHVcpiuqdbYOVqeO21zcpdzsyPcCJ3x6kp7A2qQAoRQ23AvdhPSdTOtXMVE3KPQTg74Iaqok1~7Xg0sew3igPrMxizNSqpxJsNXMp-A97Mu0NvmXT5YJbmreoDLMYNkkv-Xzx3FbSGprFusvATnq8gNxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Metropolitan Council","date","2025-03-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Metropolitan Council recorded several formal actions by voice vote on March 12, including three resolutions to authorize bond sales, an amendment to a fare-collection contract, approval of the Metro G Line final corridor plan and other routine items. Individual roll-call tallies were not specified in the public transcript; motions passed by voice vote and the chair announced each motion carried.

Bonds: The council adopted three related resolutions (presented as Business Item 2025-8) to authorize competitive sale and award of tax-exempt general obligation bond series within specified financial parameters and a 90-day sales window. The resolutions authorize bonds for three divisions:
- Transit: resolution (presented as \"2025-4\") authorizes up to $81,000,000 of 10-year general obligation transit bonds at a maximum interest rate of 5.25% (staff noted an expected rate of 3.76%). Transit bonds are repaid by levy.
- Wastewater: resolution (presented as \"2025-5\") authorizes up to $76,000,000 of 20-year general obligation wastewater revenue bonds at a maximum interest rate of 5.5% (staff noted an expected 4.28%). Wastewater bonds are expected to be repaid from wastewater-system revenues.
- Parks: resolution (presented as \"2025-6\") authorizes up to $10,000,000 of 5-year general obligation parks bonds at a maximum interest rate of 5% (staff estimated ~3.64%). Parks bonds are repaid by levy.

Fare collection contract amendment: The council authorized the regional administrator to execute an amendment to a contract with Cubic Transportation Systems to expand the scope of the fare-collection upgrade to include cloud hosting, PCI maintenance services and future enhancements. The March 2024 contract for an upgraded back-office system (identified in the transcript as contract 24P004) had a total of $33,321,008; the amendment adds $14,000,000 for a contract not to exceed $47,321,008 as described on the record. Staff said an independent analysis favored Cubic-hosted cloud and PCI services over council self-hosting.

Metro G Line final corridor plan: The council approved the Metro G Line final corridor plan (Business Item 2025-33), which establishes the number and locations of arterial bus rapid transit station sites along the corridor and allows the project to advance into final design. Staff said the final plan reflected two public engagement periods (fall 2023 and fall 2024), adjustments to eight station locations based on feedback and letters of support from partner agencies.

Other routine actions: The council approved a tentative developer selection for Central Block Station (see separate article) and adopted procedures for a Land, Water and People acknowledgement (see separate article). The council also approved the consent agenda and minutes from the Feb. 26 meeting earlier in the session.

Votes and formal motions were recorded by voice; the public transcript does not list roll-call tallies for the items above. The council directed staff to execute documents, incur issuance expenses and complete necessary steps within the established parameters where indicated.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Metropolitan Council March 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Metropolitan Council on March 12 approved three bond-authorizing resolutions, a contract amendment with Cubic for the fare-collection upgrade, and the Metro G Line final corridor plan, among other routine actions.","taxTitle","Metropolitan Council, Agencies, Boards, & Commissions, Executive, Minnesota","taxId",36731,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6283111,"Met Council adopts procedures to read Land, Water and People acknowledgement at meetings",426,1668000,2094000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589388-8ce5a79902a6e65e368edc5f63f8f8d9&start=1668&end=2094","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589388-8ce5a79902a6e65e368edc5f63f8f8d9/thumbnail_1668000.jpg","/articles/6283111/Minnesota/Met-Council-adopts-procedures-to-read-Land-Water-and-People-acknowledgement-at-meetings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283111-eaaaed4b24fc32ab0a0030070eb28bd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570826&Signature=H6i51Om6vegxoJMsPlRJ1j0FxhPFHqKe6b-JqDQZnODOmS4ZZ6~WXavPgjQ8AOPSyZRNANFyG3inMSKUeCZfPV~nolmHXxfdDepG0KJoVFoTINSj08Q1gIbwZcp6tmmHteG2qCrJlBgclHYc8EXEAbPk1phHv0dPacH3ZGayYNfBeWUSvXZFKjMKTtLaRyzQ8WwIw9FBoW-5iIV1XXQfxO2rY2wgYRuzkNgfXc-1XtNw3cJcxe3lyNVrks7lhfqEunxq0Qy9X2FC8KVj-fcsQfDBhOeMde-xrLVyCJq6c5Mkqoa0yu2Ci7oKMYrG-uPl3uk8hOsSUFLyHfeZ-q9HNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Metropolitan Council on March 12 adopted a resolution establishing procedures for use of a Land, Water and People acknowledgment developed with input from the American Indian Advisory Council and staff workgroups.

Lisonbee Waka, speaking for advisory partners, reviewed the timeline: the American Indian Advisory Council presented commitments in September 2024 and created a statement in October 2024; a Regional Development Guide work group drafted recommended procedures on Nov. 6, 2024, and the committee of the whole endorsed those procedures on Dec. 4, 2024. The proposed procedures direct the council to have the short statement read by the council chair at meetings of the governing body and committee of the whole, permit standing committee chairs to read the short statement at their discretion, include the short statement in posted agendas and official plans, and include the long statement on webpages and in educational materials where appropriate.

Council Member Lilligren said the action fulfills requests made by the American Indian Advisory Council and that it is an important step toward relationship- and trust-building. Chair Charlie Zelle said he previously had mixed feelings about land acknowledgments but had come to see that words backed by action matter. The council adopted the resolution by voice vote; the transcript records the motion carried and that the council's practice of reading the statement will begin.

The resolution directs staff to adapt the statements for use at Met Council facilities, include the short statement in new-employee and council-member orientation, and make the long statement available as an educational resource on a Met Council webpage about American Indian communities and tribal relations.","The Metropolitan Council adopted a resolution directing procedures for reading a short and long Land, Water and People acknowledgement, including reading the short statement at the start of council and committee meetings and posting the long statement in educational materials and relevant web pages.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6283117,"Met Council selects Flaherty & Collins as tentative developer for Central Block Station redevelopment",509,1139000,1648000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589388-8ce5a79902a6e65e368edc5f63f8f8d9&start=1139&end=1648","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589388-8ce5a79902a6e65e368edc5f63f8f8d9/thumbnail_1139000.jpg","/articles/6283117/Minnesota/Met-Council-selects-Flaherty-Collins-as-tentative-developer-for-Central-Block-Station-redevelopment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283117-d67cbee2309290107d768d896f7b0249/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570826&Signature=IJCU4hQGzouuqMJnxqssXsIJK98pWO4Eu~ma~qmG104xoSJ4wV0JU2CF9OFjRBjbbVGazVy7Ox2~pvgDtXbMDNPasUho-nVkRrgT3abDYYE78mpPLo1LLDTAQ-IuUPoBJVdCW5VgyjeMqhK-FQt63eQE5J055EmOxiRQylZw74QwiwTnilcKi4lP1gjPDs-jv08U0sqb7g3C-o8~5lbDWBVE9kbF~OwwhS~t6ys2MMw6q3mcGWE0E9rOj3md1gFhDZ0UN6GdK-YujqaL2ch2-zmxp2dyLe7t06ZPZyNY76XryhqPG~eOiK~3vnGS5uSS-4Y2nERniriWk8yXJeMhog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Metropolitan Council on March 12 authorized the regional administrator to negotiate a tentative developer agreement with Flaherty & Collins and the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority to pursue redevelopment of the Central Block Station site in downtown Saint Paul.

A council member presenting the item described Flaherty & Collins’ proposal as an estimated $130,000,000 mixed-use project with roughly 300 market-rate residential units and about 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail along Fifth Street. The conceptual plan calls for two buildings — a 20-story tower on the northeast portion and a six-story building on the southwest portion — connected by a skyway over the tracks.

The council member noted that Flaherty & Collins, founded in 1993 and based in Indianapolis, has experience with mixed-use urban infill and public–private partnerships and already has projects in Minnesota. The action before the council grants Flaherty & Collins an exclusive option to work toward a development and purchase agreement and requires milestone progress before a final sale, including community feedback, compliance with city regulations and identification of project financing, including any public subsidy.

A representative for the council’s staff said the developer will work with the \"joint entity\" of the Saint Paul HRA and the Met Council to move a broad proposal toward a financeable, compliant plan. The council member said the Met Council is approaching the property primarily as a partner to support downtown revitalization rather than as a major revenue source.

Council members who spoke during the item described the step as long-awaited and welcomed the public- and agency-engagement that occurred during the transportation committee review. One council member noted the HRA had voted unanimously on Feb. 19 to direct staff to finalize steps toward a developer agreement on this site.

The motion passed by voice vote. The council record shows the motion carried; individual roll-call tallies were not specified on the public transcript.","The Metropolitan Council authorized staff to negotiate a tentative developer agreement with Flaherty & Collins and the Saint Paul HRA to advance a proposed roughly $130 million, mixed-use redevelopment at Central Block Station; approvals are contingent on milestones and financing negotiations.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6283122,"Metropolitan Council updates Better Bus Stops guidelines, lowers shelter threshold and vows clearer detour communication",1884,380000,2264000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589388-8ce5a79902a6e65e368edc5f63f8f8d9&start=380&end=2264","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589388-8ce5a79902a6e65e368edc5f63f8f8d9/thumbnail_380000.jpg","/articles/6283122/Minnesota/Metropolitan-Council-updates-Better-Bus-Stops-guidelines-lowers-shelter-threshold-and-vows-clearer-detour-communication","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283122-e3e221dfd5c18e4c755e2249a5522db2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570826&Signature=MWeUZPXg~cic3Fafi4K8p17Jefs8pdStMSfAEvuDOfsbN3330bpugT4d8utIvvQZLD4YfnIPfwCRVl72mUEuC-0DkyMZGooyJOm58-D-IXpealvzEw~u2e0P3s17kwHt2GdheWSvDyCJcBag7rDZEB3fPFKo~VBhrq89FvCuzYSYoxMP5Bxy45WHy0nb62-KS7J~Z1z-9h7SF4HYWjKfCsuUMtE5kq0W8d~Jhf00mmzSzB0XJX~xA84E4SQaAO47YOCE-J5wcJr1A3urjGE98ytxhffgkCf8WQJ~zZg1bb5LWKPk7boX46VSQbRfrQhM2TY0Eba3RlQuA6IR001rSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Metro Transit staff on March 12 told the Metropolitan Council that the agency has lowered the threshold for adding a bus shelter at a regular (non-BRT/LRT) stop from 30 daily boardings to 20 and outlined 2024 accomplishments including paved boarding pads, new shelters and faster maintenance response times.

The change to the Better Bus Stops guidelines was presented by Barry Farrington, program manager for Better Bus Stops, and project manager Paul Lam. Farrington said the lower threshold expands the pool of stops eligible for shelters and that final prioritization will use equity indicators, transfer activity and nearby community destinations. \"We adjusted that threshold to 20 or more daily boardings,\" Farrington said.

The update follows 2024 work Metro Transit said included paved boarding pads at 81 stops, installation or replacement of shelters, deployment of solar lighting at 40 shelters and the addition of digital advertising panels to 30 shelters that also aid reporting of maintenance needs. Lam said roughly half of Metro Transit riders board at local stops and that the system now has about 9,000 stops, about 800 shelters, 330 with light and 140 with heaters. \"On average those issues were addressed within under 3 days, 2.7 on average,\" Lam said of maintenance requests.

Council members asked how Metro Transit will address misuse of heated or sheltered stops. Council Member Carter asked whether heated shelters could become \"a magnet\" for unsheltered people and what the agency would do. Farrington and Lam said responses include urban-design changes (for example switching patterned glass to clear glass), more frequent staff visits, temporary removal of benches or shelters when needed, and partnerships with police and social-service providers. \"Sometimes partners can go visit,\" Lam said. \"As a strategy, we have temporarily removed benches. We've temporarily removed shelters, to disrupt patterns of behavior.\"

Several council members pressed for clearer coordination with cities and other agencies. Council Member Seederberg questioned why new shelters do not automatically include lighting; staff answered that adding power can require additional design and coordination with roadway owners and utilities. Council Member Chambliss asked how the agency defines transfer points used in prioritization; staff said transfer points are locations identified in transit information where riders change routes and that heat is prioritized at transfer points with 70 or more daily boardings.

The presentation also referenced a public comment earlier in the meeting in which speaker Tom Majin said signs announcing a detour of Nicollet Avenue service to Hennepin Avenue had appeared and that the decision had been made months earlier. Chair Charlie Zelle and the regional administrator said the council would follow up to clarify the detour process. \"This is a temporary closure for what we believe to be the parade,\" the regional administrator said when summarizing discussions about the St. Patrick's Day parade and downtown closures.

Staff said they coordinate planned capital work with roadway agencies, notify cities in spring about coming capital improvements, and continue to track availability metrics: currently about 71% of bus boardings occur where a shelter exists, 50% where there is light and 40% where there is heat. The council praised the program's steady gains and the improved reporting tools for maintenance requests.

Metro Transit officials said the full updated Better Bus Stops guidelines and a map of candidate stops are available on the Met Council website and invited council members to contact staff with locations for consideration.","Metro Transit officials told the Metropolitan Council they will expand where shelters, lighting and heaters are considered, lower the shelter threshold to 20 daily boardings and work to clarify communications about temporary downtown detours after a public comment raised concerns about a planned Nicollet Avenue detour to Hennepin Avenue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Met Council approves bond authorizations, Cubic fare-system amendment, G Line corridor plan and other items

Met Council adopts procedures to read Land, Water and People acknowledgement at meetings

Met Council selects Flaherty & Collins as tentative developer for Central Block Station redevelopment

Metropolitan Council updates Better Bus Stops guidelines, lowers shelter threshold and vows clearer detour communication