Minn. Metro Transit honored as 2016 'System of the Year'
Those accomplishments include growing ridership, expanding access, advances in sustainability and overall success in system safety. Metro Transit was selected among agencies from across North America that provide more than 20 million annual passenger trips.
Minneapolis' Metro Transit is celebrating a top national award that recognizes its record ridership and success in a range of areas, including safety, operations, maintenance and community relations.
The agency has received the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) 2016 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award. The prestigious annual award, also known as System of the Year, reflects accomplishments made between 2013 and 2015.
Those accomplishments include growing ridership, expanding access, advances in sustainability and overall success in system safety. Metro Transit was selected among agencies from across North America that provide more than 20 million annual passenger trips.
After opening the METRO Green Line in 2014, Metro Transit saw its highest ridership in 30 years. More than 85.8 million rides were taken in 2015. In addition to record ridership, Metro Transit was recognized for successes in system safety, reliability, community relations, workforce development, sustainability and financial management, among other areas.
Growth in the Metro Transit Police Department, enhanced operator training and highly visible safety campaigns have improved system safety. Carefully-managed maintenance programs have doubled vehicle reliability over the last decade. And $16 million in savings have been realized through the expanded use of hybrid-electric buses, solar energy and other sustainability efforts. New transit information tools, fare programs for students and expanded bus service have also made transit more accessible.
Metro Transit
In 2015, Metro Transit began working with local groups to shape ongoing bus stop improvements, launched a groundbreaking program that provides job-seekers a path to full-time Mechanic Technician roles and formed an outreach team to ensure residents were both heard from and involved in the decision-making process.
“Metro Transit’s success is a reflection of the talent and dedication shown by each of our 3,200 employees who work together to provide the essential services our region depends on, as well as the enduring relationships we’ve built with our customers and partners,” General Manager Brian Lamb said. “Being named APTA’s System of the Year is a humbling and high honor, and one that can be celebrated by all who helped bring us to this point.”
Local elected, business and community leaders were on-hand Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Union Depot in St. Paul to join Metro Transit and Metropolitan Council leadership and staff as the award was announced. The award will be presented at APTA’s Annual Meeting in Los Angeles in September.
Metro Transit also unveiled a new decal noting the award, which will be added to all of its buses and trains. The agency also announced a customer and staff appreciation event that will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Target Field Station amphitheater.
In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.
Amanda Wanke, who has worked at DART for 10 years, including the past 2½ years as CEO, will join Metro Transit as deputy chief operating officer, operations administration.
In his first State of CDTA address as CEO, Frank Annicaro highlighted the organization’s continued focus on delivering reliable service, investing in innovation, and strengthening connections across the region.
The special episode features an exclusive interview with Mark Miller, president of Constellation Software Inc. and executive chairman of the Volaris Group, who reflects on the podcast's early vision and the importance of creating a platform where transit leaders can share ideas and learn from one another.
The CAD facility enables NFI to complete full domestic production of heavy-duty transit vehicles, including zero-emission buses, in Winnipeg for the first time in 15 years.
The findings provide clear evidence that sustained Federal investment in public transit and passenger rail delivers significant returns for workers, communities, taxpayers, and the U.S. economy, APTA officials said.
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
