Minnesota Agencies

Provides transit services within the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area in conformance with the implementation plan of the Regional Transit Board.

The Twin Cities Area Metropolitan Transit Commission [MTC] was created by the legislature in 1967 to maintain and improve public mass transit in the Twin Cities metropolitan area [Laws of Minnesota 1967, chapter 892]. The commission succeeded the Joint Powers Transit Commission, a voluntarily formed body created by 23 municipalities in the metropolitan area to further the prospects of public mass transit.

In 1974, as part of the Metropolitan Reorganization Act [Laws of Minnesota 1974 chapter 422], the commission's name was changed to the Metropolitan Transit Commission. There were significant changes to the commission in 1984 [Laws of Minnesota 1984, chapter 654, article 3, various sections].

The commission was abolished by 1994 Laws of Minnesota chapter 628, article 1, section 4, subdivision 2. The metropolitan council is the successor entity to the metropolitan transit commission with respect to all of the commission's property, interests, and obligations. All of the operations managed by the commission are transferred to the office of transit operations of the transportation division of the metropolitan council.

As of 1989, the Commission has 5 members: 1 resident each from Minneapolis and St. Paul, 2 residents of the service area of the commission outside Minneapolis and St. Paul, and 1 resident of anywhere in the metropolitan area; at least one of the members outside of St. Paul and Minneapolis must reside in the full-peak and off-peak service area; each member must have transit, governmental, or management experience; members may not, during term of office, be a member of the Metropolitan Council, Regional Transit Board, Metropolitan Waste Control Commission, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Metropolitan Spots Facilities Commission, or any other independent regional commission, board, or agency, or hold any judicial office.

Appointed by Regional Transit Board; senate consent required; 3-year terms; per diem and expenses; members file with Ethical Practices Board.

Chair: Robert Mairs,1992-1993; Frank Snowden,1993-