C ommunity Natural resources from page 1 pollution, commercial development, erosion and invasive species. “I think most natural areas or open spaces in the Twin Cities have a long history of disturbance from farming, or from when industrial and commercial settlements
moved in,” said Spreiter. “In order to restore sites to the pre-settlement vegetation you must first remove invasive species and reseed. It’s a big portion of the work, depending on the history of the site and what it’s been through.”
Your community news and information source She cited the restoration underway at the Oheyawhi/ Pilot Knob site as a prime example of what the city can accomplish working with many partners. The city has been working with a variety of governmental agencies and environmental nonprofits since 2017 to restore the property, a burial ground and sacred site for the Dakota community that has been
harmed by development. “First it was a farm then it was leveled when a cemetery bought portions of it, then it had a hotel and gas station, and a road through it,” Spreiter said. “There was a lot of disturbance and compaction of soils that make it difficult to restore.” Other current projects include the removal of curly leaf pond weed from Rogers
Lake, buckthorn removal, enhancing a pollinator corridor, and a 2-year study of Interstate Valley Creek, located near I-35E, that will lead to a plan to reduce erosion and improve water quality. “It’s a small city but we have lots of green space and areas to manage, so figuring out what to tackle can be a challenge,” said Spreiter. “Sometimes it’s a mat-
ter of knowing we can get a grant for a certain project…. Working with the residents is my favorite part [of the job]. Getting to meet new residents and working together on natural resources projects is always fun. There are a lot of passionate residents that really care about natural resources in Mendota Heights.”
Getting back on track: Metro Transit launches new safety plan Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
W
hile many people rely on Metro Transit to get around the Twin Cities, some have been discouraged from using public transportation in recent years because of safety concerns. To address this issue, the Metro Transit Police Work Group recently completed a Safety and Security Action Plan that identifies nearly 40 ways to make transit safer and more welcoming. The plan was created in June using feedback from customers and em-
ployees collected over the past two years by the Metro Transit Police Department, Citizens League and Twin Cities Innovation Alliance. The plan focuses on three key areas: improving conditions on the system, training and supporting employees, and engaging riders. Steps beginning this summer and fall include: • Hiring additional police officers, private security, and community service officers (CSO). Metro Transit began its CSO pilot program in July 2021. • Using more real-time cameras on busses, trains
and at transit stops • Redesigning high-traffic facilities and adding lighting and public art to shelters • Reducing the standard 3-car train to 2-car trains on the Blue and Green Lines under a new pilot program running through Aug. 19 • Expanding employee training on topics such as mental health, de-escalation and personal safety • Assessing how late night transit schedules affect security • Investing in the Metro Transit Police Department Homeless Action Team and other programs such as the
Anti-harassment and Respect the Ride campaigns • Working with social service agencies and health care organizations to provide resources for the homeless and others in need Each of these steps has its own budget and timeline for completion, which can be found at metrotransit.org/ public-safety. Community feedback will be gathered quarterly to ensure the plan is meeting its goals. Ridership is higher this year than last year but is still about half of pre-COVID levels. Metro Transit understands that people feel less
safe when fewer people are on busses and trains. Surveys revealed that many riders and employees think there are too few security officers on the system to promptly address problematic behavior. They also showed that some youth and people of color feel targeted by transit police. Metro Transit is now recruiting more police, security, CSOs, and bus and train operators, but it has been a major hurdle because of the workforce shortage. Metro Transit currently has about 100 police and 17 CSOs. It is looking to hire about 70
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more of each. It is also currently reviewing proposals from private security firms to be stationed at the Lake and Franklin stations, and expects to award a contract this year. Additionally, Metro Transit has about 1,100 bus operators and 95 train operators, about 30 fewer than it had three years ago. A smaller staff has forced a reduction in number of trains, trips and routes. Metro Transit is also reviewing its fare policies. For more information or to provide feedback on the plan, visit metrotransit.org/ public-safety.
