Metro Transit staff on April 20 presented a high‑level overview of capital maintenance planning, describing long‑term funding needs, staffing challenges and the schedule for a three‑year state‑of‑good‑repair program on the Blue Line.

Brian Funk, Metro Transit deputy general manager and chief operating officer, told the Metropolitan Council the agency has identified about $15.2 billion in capital needs over 30 years and roughly $4.7 billion over the next six years, including about $833 million in 2025 alone. "This commitment allowed us to do a multi‑decade look out ahead," Funk said, describing investments in light‑rail vehicle replacement, state‑of‑good‑repair projects, bus capital needs and arterial BRT investments.

Staff described the funding sources that support the capital program: federal, state and local grants, regional capital borrowing and the sales‑tax funding approved in 2023 (referred to in the presentation as Chapter 68 sales‑tax rule), which Metro Transit officials said is intended to address long‑term maintenance obligations.

Key project and schedule details included Renew the Blue, a three‑year state‑of‑good‑repair effort on the Blue Line. Kelsey Stones of Metro Transit's market development team said the project will require multiple full‑line closures: a nine‑day closure in September 2025, a 45‑day closure in June and August 2026, and a 53‑day closure in April–May 2027. The work covers the segment between Terminal 2 and Cedar‑Riverside and will affect airport–downtown connectivity during those periods.

Staff emphasized proactive communications and business outreach. MetroTransit.org/renewtheblue will serve as the project hub with updates, maps and an e‑newsletter; outreach materials, ads in multiple languages, station messaging and post‑closure rider surveys are planned.

Maintenance leaders outlined workforce and systems issues. Bruce Carden, deputy COO for maintenance, said the agency is budgeted for nearly 400 technicians and more than 550 frontline maintenance employees but faces more than 100 vacant maintenance technician positions that must be filled over the next two years to support light‑rail extensions and bus expansion. "We're currently understaffed on some of those positions… we've got to get staffed up," Carden said. He also reported 21 rail breaks this winter season and described ultrasonic testing and staged repair work starting over the weekend and continuing through summer.

Kristen Thompson, director of asset management, described creation of the asset management team in 2022, enterprise asset management system (EAMS) implementation planning, GIS data work and development of asset‑level plans to meet Federal Transit Administration asset‑management requirements.

Council members broadly praised the presentation and asked about staffing trends, community impacts for station areas during closures (notably Lake Street and Franklin stations), and how bus bridge services will operate during Blue Line closures. Council Member Carter said she appreciated the communications planning and urged careful outreach so riders and businesses can plan. Council Member Little Green raised concerns about displacement of activities around stations and asked staff to coordinate with public safety and community partners; staff said they would bring those questions to the outreach lead, Kevin Murray.

Why it matters: Metro Transit said the work is intended to protect long‑term investments, avoid future service failures and ensure system reliability as the region expands service. The presentation framed the maintenance program as both an operational necessity and a budgeting priority to match available sales‑tax and grant funding with multi‑decade capital needs.

Next steps: Metro Transit will launch the Renew the Blue public hub in May, continue community outreach through summer 2025, implement scheduled closures beginning September 2025, and continue recruitment and apprenticeship efforts to fill technician vacancies.