TRIP Agents On The Rails

Beginning last fall, Metro Transit enacted their Safety and Security Action Plan to address ongoing fare evasion, problem behaviors, and criminal activity – especially on the two regional light-rail lines. Last month, METRO Blue and Green line trains added another layer of public safety - a team of 24 Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) agents who ride the rails.  

TRIP team members work together with Metro Transit police and Community Service Officers from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily to:

• Check fare payment
• Issue $35 citations to those who have not paid
• Educate about the Transportation Affordability Program (TAP) for those who qualify
• Help riders with way-finding and route information
• Connect riders with social service agencies to address homelessness and substance abuse issues
• Enforce rules against smoking and drug use

Passenger response has been very positive according to one two-member team TRIP agent team who boarded a Blue Line train at the Warehouse District station this week. The agents reported that fare checking went smoothly, customers were polite, and relatively few citations were issued. 

TRIP agents provide a smiling face of reassurance so that riding the trains is a positive experience up and down the lines.  

E-Bike Rebate Program

Launches This Summer

In 2022, there were 1.1 million e-Bikes sold in the United States, almost four times as many as were sold in 2019. The popularity has only grown since then as more people discover how fun riding an e-Bike is. 

One barrier for purchasing an e-Bike has been the cost. Minnesota has a program to address the cost barrier for those who qualify: the 2023 Minnesota Omnibus Transportation Policy and Finance bill included a new Electric-Assisted Bicycle Rebate Program (e-Bike Rebate). There is a great deal of interest in the e-Bike Rebate which was designed to reduce the cost for Minnesota residents to buy a new e-bike at eligible retailers starting July 1, 2024. The rebate is worth 50-75% of the cost of an e-bike and qualifying accessories, up to $1,500.

There are specific terms to qualify for the rebate and the amount of the rebate depends upon the rebate applicant’s income. The Minnesota Department of Revenue has release an FAQ on the rebate program.

The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) has more information on the rebate program timeline along with specifics on the bill.

Upcoming Blue Line Extension

Open House Sessions

The METRO Blue Line extension will link the 13.5 miles from Target Field to Brooklyn Park through the North Loop, North Minneapolis, Robbinsdale and Crystal beginning in 2030. Updated cost and ridership estimates were released last week.

Public involvement is key at every step of the process: the project relies heavily on community voices as it moves forward. This involves outreach events to inform about the project along with opportunities for gathering feedback from the communities served by the line.  

The Metropolitan Council provides opportunities for public involvement and feedback: 

Free Customized Consultations

Available!

Move Minneapolis is pleased to offer free Customized Consultations for those interested in trying sustainable trips to, from, and through downtown Minneapolis.

Schedule a free 15-minute virtual/phone session with a Move Minneapolis staff member where we'll talk through your current transportation situation including your preferences and barriers, and create a plan to help you on your sustainable way. 

Sessions are currently available Fridays from 9am - 3pm.

March 14 ---

2024 Bike/Walk Summit 

Bicycle advocates and enthusiasts throughout the state of Minnesota will once again gather in Saint Paul for the annual Bike Summit on Capitol Hill to help residents of the State set the pace for the rest of the nation. 

BikeMN will schedule appointments for attendees to meet with their legislators. NOTE: If you registered after March 1st they can't guarantee a scheduled meeting with your Senator or Representative.

Morning sessions will include training and coaching on talking with your legislators. Appointment times with specific legislators will be posted the morning of the Bike Summit to assist you in mapping your day.  

When: Thursday, March 14th 8:00 - 6:00 pm CDT 

Where: Christ Lutheran Church – 105 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55103

By March 19 ---

Share Your Feedback on Metro Transit Route 4

Metro Transit is partnering with the cities of Columbia Heights, New Brighton, Minneapolis, Richfield, and Bloomington as well as Hennepin County to improve service on Route 4.

Take the survey by March 19 to share your thoughts on the planned changes.

March 27 ---

Bicycles as a Social and Community Development Strategy—An International Perspective 

Join the Center For Transportation Studies alongside Metchell McSweeney and Janet Otte for a discussion on the opportunities, challenges, and unintended consequences that bicycles-for-development may hold for rural communities in Northern Uganda—and how bicycles and their transformative potential might be used in other rural contexts in the US and beyond. 

Registration is Required.

When: Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 12:00–1:00 pm CDT 

Where: Zoom

March 27 ---

Wheels in Motion Bike Expo

March 28---

How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet

Join the Center For Transportation Studies and author Ben Goldfarb for a discussion on the ecological harms wrought by transportation and the movement to redress them—and how we can create a better, safer world for all living beings Goldfarb is the author of Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, named one of the best books of 2023 by the New York Times and The New Yorker .

Registration is Required 

When: Thursday, March 28, 2024, 10:00–11:00 am CDT 

Where: Zoom

April 1---

30 Days of Biking Begins

Spring is here, which means the kick-off to one of our favorite annual traditions is right around the bend: 30 Days of Biking! Pledge to get on a bike every day in April - whether commuting to work, riding trails with friends, or just around the block, and join a global “community of joyful cyclists”. 

Share your adventures online using the hashtag #30daysofbiking and join a global “community of joyful cyclists”. 

When: April 1 - April 30

Where: Everywhere and anywhere!