Metropolitan Council Chair Charlie Zelle to depart from his position
Charlie Zelle, the current Chair of the Metropolitan Council, has announced his retirement, effective September 10, 2025. The news was shared by Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan.
Zelle has been at the helm of the Met Council since 2020, steering the regional planning and development agency through challenging times. His tenure has been marked by efforts to address crime, improve public perception, and stimulate a post-pandemic recovery for Metro Transit.
Before joining the Met Council, Zelle served as the chair, president, and CEO of Jefferson Lines bus service. He also held the position of commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation under Gov. Mark Dayton.
During his time at the Met Council, Zelle has been a strong advocate for transit and regional parks. He has been credited for securing funding for and advancing the Green Line light-rail extension, which is set to open in 2027.
In his State of the Region address in January, Zelle defended the council's work on equity, resiliency, innovation, and climate change, and praised its build-out of transit. He also received praise from Governor Walz for his public service, which Walz described as having made a lasting impact on the Met Council and public transportation and infrastructure across Minnesota.
The Met Council's 2025 budget was $1.6 billion. However, the council has faced criticism, with some arguing that it is an unelected decision-making agency not accountable to voters or communities. Critics have also cited cost overruns and delays related to the Southwest light rail, also known as the Green Line extension, as a point of contention.
As Zelle prepares to step down, the Met Council will determine interim leadership plans. Zelle, in his statement, expressed confidence in the council's ability to be bold and do so together.
For the most current updates on Zelle's successor and the interim leadership plans, checking recent announcements from the Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan is advisable.
- Charlie Zelle, the conference-riede Metropolitan Council head, was instrumental in driving the regional planning and development agency through challenging times, focusing on public safety, perception improvement, and Metro Transit recovery post-pandemic.
- Before joining the Met Council, Zelle held various roles in the bus, rail, and transportation industry, serving as the chair, president, and CEO of Jefferson Lines bus service, and commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation under Gov. Mark Dayton.
- Throughout his tenure at the Met Council, Zelle advocated for transit and regional parks, securing funding for and advancing the Green Line light-rail extension – set to open in 2027 – and defending the council's work on equity, resiliency, innovation, and climate change.
- Amidst the impending retirement of Charlie Zelle, confronting critics of the Met Council as an unelected agency, policy-and-legislation matters, finance, and infrastructure development in transportation, politics, and general news are likely to emerge given the council's budget, recent criticisms, and the search for an interim leader.
