Minnesota Agencies

Metro Transit is the transportation resource for the Twin Cities, offering an integrated network of buses, light rail and commuter trains as well as resources for those who carpool, vanpool, walk or bike. Metro Transit is an operating division of the Metropolitan Council. 

The Met Council's publication, A Bold Experiment: The Metropolitan Council at 40 Years (2007), includes this history of Metro Transit:

"The Metropolitan Council grew in size and responsibilities in 1994 with the passage of legislation that consolidated the Council with the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission (MWCC), the Regional Transit Board (RTB) and the-Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC).

"The legislation eliminated the latter three boards and gave the Council operating responsibility for the wastewater system, the Metro Transit bus system and the Metro Mobility ride program for people with disabilities. The Council, which previously had just under 200 employees, grew to an agency with more than 3,700 employees.

"Dottie Rietow, Council chair at the time of the merger, said the legislation was designed to make regional government 'more accountable, with one board instead of four for planning and policy, wastewater and transit.' It also more closely linked program planning and service delivery, she said.

"Under the law, the governor continued to appoint Council members. However, the new law provided that members serve at the governor's pleasure rather than for a fixed term."

General Managers:

• Harry Springer, 1970-1980
• Lou Olsen, 1980-1985
• John Capell, 1985-1990
• Mike Christenson, 1990-1993
• Tom Sather, 1993-1996
• Julie Johanson (acting), 1996-1997
• Art Leahy, 1997-2001
• John Haley, 2001
• Mike Setzer, 2002-2004
• Brian Lamb, 2004-2019
• Wes Kooistra, 2019-2022
• Lesley Kandaras, 2023-