Riders' Almanac Blog

How We Roll: Shanta Hejmadi, Principal Data Scientist

Posted by Drew Kerr | April 2, 2026

How We Roll celebrates Metro Transit employees who regularly ride transit and other forms of sustainable transportation. Read more How We Roll Q&As here. How do you generally get around? I have access to a vehicle but use transit as often [...]

Know Your Operator

Know Your Operator: Koamivi Attisso

Posted by John Komarek | April 1, 2026

In 2007, Koamivi (Kwah-mee-VEE) Attisso left Togo in West Africa and in search of opportunity. Today, he’s a Metro Transit light rail operator. “I’ve always loved transportation,” Koamivi said. “I lived near the airport as a kid. I dreamed [...]

METRO Gold Line

A year after opening, METRO Gold Line winning over riders

Posted by Drew Kerr | March 26, 2026

Before the METRO Gold Line opened a year ago this month, Woodbury resident Natasha Fleischman recalls thinking it could be a good way to get to work in St. Paul if she was ever unable to drive again due to health reasons. In early January, [...]

Know Your Operator

Know Your Operator: James Bloodworth

Posted by John Komarek | March 19, 2026

At Metro Transit, Operator James Bloodworth has found not only stability, but true job satisfaction.  “When riders say thank you, it really touches you,” he said. “I’ve hauled cargo, but hauling ‘precious cargo’ is more meaningful [...]

Behind the Badge

Behind the Badge: Sgt. Tim Lawrence

Posted by jzossmt | March 18, 2026

Please tell us how you came to work at the Metro Transit Police Department. I started with Metro Transit back in 2012. At that time, there were 500 or more people applying for one position. I was working as a reservist for the Hastings Police [...]