Robbinsdale Leaders Say Process of Planning and Design of Blue Line Extension Moving Ahead

Summer has brought about milestones in planning and design as city and regional transit officials work toward a design for Robbinsdale’s two planned Blue Line light rail stations.

The planned Blue Line light rail transit extension take the trains right up and down the middle of Bottineau Boulevard/Highway 81 in Robbinsdale.

“First, the SF-EIS, the supplemental final environmental impact statement,” said Robbinsdale City Manager Tim Sandvik. “The FTA just gave final approval of this, so this is a process that included additional environmental study after the original route was updated. Going through that process included a lot of community meetings, a lot of input from stakeholders: cities, county, etc., and to get that updated document to the FTA and ultimately get final approval is a big step.”

Sandvik also said the 60% engineered plans for the line and the stations in downtown Robbinsdale and near Lowry and North Memorial Hospital were completed. He said this involves a lot more input from the city about utility plans around the project and more specific measurements and dimensions.

Sandvik said next will be more opportunity for public input.

“We’ll be sure to broadcast that out again,” he said. “Whether it’s a resident, visitor, business, we’re always looking for your contributions on this, so as those opportunities arise at the hyperlocal level and generally, we’ll be sure to get that information about.”

Robbinsdale | Twin Cities

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