The METRO Blue Line Extension transit project already entered a new phase called municipal consent. Now is the time for you and local city governments to review and comment on the physical designs of our next light rail investment.
This light rail transit project will extend the existing Blue Line northwest by 13.4 miles and add 12 new stations, shown on the map below. The route will run from the Target Field station in downtown Minneapolis to the communities of North Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn Park. Construction is expected to begin sometime in 2026 or 2027, with an anticipated opening year of 2030.
While members of the community and local city governments cannot ask for this project to be a bus rapid transit line (as that would require an entirely new project and the Metropolitan Council already ruled BRT out), they can, however, ask for reasonable changes to the physical design. Local city governments cannot vote to oppose the project, but rather can say “no” attached with defined conditions for which the city would need to meet to achieve approval. If a city chooses to take no action by the October 10 deadline, the result is an automatic approval.
Comments and conditions to address anti-displacement cannot be addressed with municipal consent as it does not pertain to the project’s design. Instead, feedback can be directed to the project team and the newly published Coordinated Action Plan for Anti-Displacement.
You can help guide the project’s physical design by commenting now through October 10, 2024. Public comments on the physical design can be mailed, emailed, sent through an online commenting form or at a public testimony.
The City of Crystal recently conducted an open house and public hearing for municipal consent, and the City of Robbinsdale followed that event with an open house the next day. A joint public hearing was held on Monday, August 26 by several agencies, including the Metropolitan Council.
Other opportunities for input are below.
Take Action!
Please visit the project website’s Municipal Consent page for more information on municipal consent. You can also visit a MinnPost article which goes in-depth on the Blue Line Extension’s municipal consent process.
View the Physical Design Plans: Complete physical design plans can be found at several libraries and the Blue Line Extension project office in St. Louis Park. City specific physical design plans can be found at city halls and libraries. Please visit the project website’s plan documents page for more information.
Comment on the Physical Design Plans: For a list of emails, mailing addresses or more information, visit the project website’s how to comment page.
Robbinsdale Public Hearing:
Tuesday, September 3 | 7 p.m.
Robbinsdale City Hall
4100 Lakeview Ave. N., Robbinsdale
For more information and ways to comment, visit the City of Robbinsdale’s website.
Brooklyn Park Open House:
Monday, September 9, 2024 | 4-6 p.m.
Brooklyn Park City Hall – Multipurpose Room – First Floor
5200 85th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park
Brooklyn Park Public Hearing:
Monday, September 9, 2024 | 6 p.m.
Brooklyn Park City Hall – City Council Chambers
5200 85th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park
For more information and ways to comment, visit the City of Brooklyn Park’s website.
Minneapolis Public Hearing:
Thursday, September 12 | 1:30 p.m.
Public Service Center, Room 350
250 S. Fourth Ave., Minneapolis
For more information and ways to comment, visit the city of Minneapolis’ website.
Editor’s Note: Following publication, the City of Brooklyn Park changed the posted date of the public hearing from September 23 to September 9. We have accordingly updated the public hearing date in this article.