A new report by Minnesota's Office of the Legislative Auditor has thrown a spotlight on the operations of Metro Mobility, revealing a slew of mismanagement issues under the supervision of the Metropolitan Council. The recently released findings indicate lower standards of service within the mandated area and a failure to properly address rider complaints. The Senate Transportation Committee Chair, Senator Scott Dibble, has responded with grave concerns.

Audit findings laid bare on Tuesday show that Metro Mobility, which is supposed to ensure transportation for people with disabilities, has been dropping the ball. Dibble's statement points out a pattern of denied trips, delays in service, and general dissatisfaction among users. The Senator, a Democrat representing Minneapolis, expressed his discontent, stating, "Today's findings reveal that Metro Mobility is ineffectively managed, causing trips to be denied, pick-ups and drop offs to be delayed, and an overall low level of service quality for the people who rely on this service."

Beyond just poor service, the audit also uncovered financial missteps. The Metropolitan Council apparently paid out thousands in bonuses to contracted providers of Metro Mobility services. This was done despite the providers not meeting the stipulated high standards of service. Surprisingly, no penalties were levied for their service failures as should have been, per their contractual obligations.

Despite the Metropolitan Council's receptive stance towards the findings, including an assurance of no ride request denials in 2024, Dibble insists that these steps are insufficient. "Further changes must be made," he emphasized, signaling a call to action for the council to step up their oversight and rectify the ongoing service and administrative issues.