The Metropolitan Council on March 26 approved a first-quarter and carry-forward amendment to its 2025 unified budget, authorized two technology contracts for enterprise systems and cloud services, and endorsed the Network Now transit framework that will reconfigure bus service across the seven-county region.

The amendment to the council's 2025 unified budget—moved by Councilmember Peter Johnson and approved by roll call—adjusts operating and capital budgets across regional administration, community development and transportation, carries forward previously allocated equity grant funds, and adds staff and fleet purchases. The council also approved a contract to implement a new Enterprise Asset Management System and a three-year Microsoft licensing and Azure cloud-services contract. Finally, the council endorsed Network Now, a plan that would discontinue 50 routes while reallocating resources to expand overall service by more than 40 percent.

Why it matters: the budget changes and contract approvals finance immediate system upgrades (software, asset-management, cloud migration) and underpin a major service reconfiguration intended to grow ridership and change how bus service is delivered across the region.

Budget amendment: what changed

Councilmember Peter Johnson presented the unified budget amendment as a package of operating and capital updates. The amendment carries forward funds set aside in 2023–24 for business process systems integration (listed in the motion as equity-grant carry-forwards of $1,000,000 and $2,200,000), adds three full‑time positions to regional administration finance to support the general ledger and accounts teams, and makes several transportation capital changes.

Transportation items in the amendment include funding to purchase 98 replacement buses (scheduled for Metro Transit delivery in 2026) and 22 expansion buses to support the Network Now initiative. The amendment also reclassified $10,000,000 in state funding for the Blue Line Extension from the capital budget to the operating budget, added $16,500,000 for Blue Line rail maintenance and track work, $5,800,000 for new transit information software, and $2,000,000 for MTS equipment. Councilmembers noted the project details are listed in the packet tables (tables 9 and 11) provided in advance.

Enterprise Asset Management contract

Councilmember Andrew Jones introduced business item 2025-574, a contract to replace two legacy work-management systems with a single enterprise asset-management (EAM) platform. "The Enterprise Asset Management System known as EAMS project will replace the council's 2 legacy work management systems with a single modern enterprise platform," Jones said. The council authorized the regional administrator to negotiate and execute contract 23P221 with 21 Tech LLC for implementation of Hexagon EAM, including software licensing and support, in an amount listed in the motion (the motion text in the meeting transcript lists two amounts; staff indicated detailed contract totals are in the packet). The council approved the item by voice vote.

Microsoft licensing and Azure cloud services

Councilmember Johnson presented business item 2025-575 to renew enterprise Microsoft licensing and Azure cloud services through SHI International. The motion authorizes contract 25P051 for Microsoft licenses, Windows and Office 365 support, SharePoint and Azure cloud services in an amount not to exceed $32,500,000; the presentation said approximately $18,200,000 of that total covers Azure cloud services supporting the council's migration to the cloud. The council approved the three‑year renewal by voice vote.

Network Now endorsement and route changes

Councilmember Barber brought business item 2025-530 to endorse Network Now, a service‑planning framework the council said reflects more than 8,000 public comments plus technical and policy analysis. "This framework guides improvements to grow ridership, enhance mobility and meet travel needs," Barber said during the meeting.

Under the endorsed framework, Metro Transit projects more than 40% systemwide expansion in the areas targeted by Network Now. Specific outcomes described in the presentation include frequency or span improvements on more than 70 routes, 26 routes reaching 15-minute or better service, light-rail service returning to 10-minute headways, creation of eight new micro-zones, restoration of 12 suspended routes, and a permanent discontinuation of 50 routes; resources from discontinued lines would be reinvested elsewhere in the system. Councilmembers also completed a budget roll-call vote to make funds available for Network Now implementation.

Council comment and next steps

Speakers including Metro Transit operations leadership flagged communications and implementation as key follow-ups. Metro Transit General Manager Harjei (identified in the meeting) said staff plan quarterly updates so council members and the public can track how lines move from plan to implementation.

Votes at a glance

- 2025 unified budget amendment (management committee item; packet tables referenced): authorized by motion; roll-call recorded and carried.
- Contract 23P221 — EAMS (21 Tech LLC / Hexagon EAM): authorized; motion carried (voice vote).
- Contract 25P051 — Microsoft licensing and Azure services (SHI International): authorized in an amount not to exceed $32,500,000; motion carried (voice vote).
- Network Now endorsement and related budget roll-call: endorsed; motion carried (roll-call for funding recorded).

The council packet and attached tables contain line‑by‑line project funding and contract detail; staff indicated typographical corrections would be made to the printed business-item language before the final record.