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Mounds View City Council February 14, 2022 Regular Meeting Page 3 7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Metro Transit Presentation: Victoria Dan, Cyndi Harper Peter Lindstrom, Met Council representative, introduced himself to the Council and provided updates on the Met Council’s zero-emission bus plan. He commented on the three BRT routes that would be pursued in the east metro in the coming years. Cyndi Harper, Metro Transit representative, thanked the Council for their time. She introduced herself and stated she appreciated the invitation to attend this meeting. Victoria Dan, Metro Transit representative, provided the Council with a presentation on the plans Metro Transit has for the east metro. She discussed how operator shortages and COVID-19 has impacted routes and then discussed considerations Metro Transit has for future services. A chart for ridership from 2020 to 2021 was reviewed. The routes running through Mounds View were further discussed and the number of users was described pre and post-COVID. The principles in place for local route planning was reviewed noting routes must serve a variety of trip purposes and destinations, match level of service to demand and be simple and direct. Council Member Meehlhause thanked Ms. Dan for the thorough presentation. He asked if Route 250 served the Medtronic facility in Mounds View. Ms. Dan reported this was the case. Council Member Bergeron requested further information on how Metro Transit defines “intersection density”. Ms. Dan explained this gets at the intensity of roadway connections within a community. She stated within an urban street grid there would be a higher density of roadway connections, which was conducive to transit. Ms. Harper explained as the Met Council works to update the Transportation Policy Plan they will be taking another look at some of the things that influences the likelihood to ride transit. Council Member Bergeron questioned how auto availability was evaluated by Metro Transit. Ms. Dan reported this was conducted through data research, studying the number of private vehicles and the population over 16 years of age within a certain area. Mayor Mueller asked if there was a route in Mounds View that would take residents to the Northtown area. Ms. Dan explained Route 25 would take residents to the Northtown Transit Center at the Northtown Mall. She reported Route 804 would take residents south through New Brighton to St. Anthony and terminates at Silver Lake Village. Mayor Mueller requested further information regarding the suburb to suburb commute and if times had improved. Ms. Harper described the suburb to suburb routes that were available currently to Mounds View residents, noting these were the most challenging routes for Metro Transit. She commented further on how reroutes were considered four times a year. Council Member Bergeron reported the suburb to suburb bus connections were important to Mounds View residents. He encouraged Metro Transit to do whatever they can to improve the