About Metropolitan Council
Metropolitan Council: Driving Efficient and Economic Growth for a Prosperous Region
The Metropolitan Council is a regional policy-making body, planning agency, and provider of essential services for the Twin Cities metropolitan region. Established in 1967, the council has been instrumental in shaping the growth and development of the region by providing leadership on issues related to transportation, housing, water resources, parks and open space, community development, and more.
At its core, the Metropolitan Council is committed to fostering efficient and economic growth for a prosperous region. This mission is reflected in everything that it does - from developing long-term plans that guide regional growth to delivering essential services that improve quality of life for residents.
One of the key functions of the Metropolitan Council is transportation planning. The council oversees an extensive network of highways, transit systems (including buses and light rail), bike paths, pedestrian walkways - all designed to provide safe and efficient mobility options for residents throughout the region. By investing in these critical infrastructure projects over time - such as expanding light rail lines or building new bus rapid transit routes - they are able to help reduce congestion on roads while also improving access to jobs and other important destinations.
Another area where Metropolitan Council plays an important role is in housing policy. The council works closely with local governments across the region to ensure that there are enough affordable housing options available for residents at all income levels. This includes everything from providing financial assistance to developers who build affordable units to working with landlords on tenant protections like rent stabilization policies.
In addition to transportation planning and housing policy work, Metropolitan Council also provides essential services like wastewater treatment through its Environmental Services division. This division operates several large treatment plants throughout the metro area which process millions of gallons of wastewater each day before returning it safely back into local rivers or lakes.
Overall then it's clear that Metropolitan Council plays a vital role in shaping both current conditions as well as future prospects within this thriving metropolitan area!