Blue Line Light Rail Extension Meetings Underway

A series of presentations and question and answer sessions regarding the Blue Line Light Rail Extension kicked off last week. Meetings are planned in Robbinsdale and Minneapolis this week.

The meeting in Brooklyn Park was sparsely attended, but people expressed a desire to hear about updates.

“I was hoping it would be done already,” said one resident, who lives near the route in Brooklyn Park. “I was really counting on it, but it was a pipe dream.”

The stretch going through Brooklyn Park hasn’t changed much, since plans to share the BNSF railway were scrapped last summer. There’s considerable change proposed to the southern end of the route, which would run right now Highway 81.

“The proposal in front of us now is to run LRT as center-running route, down the middle of Hwy 81, with businesses on both sides,” said Dan Soler with Hennepin County. “We feel like there’s adequate space there, that the LRT will fit. But the concern has been what will this to do pedestrian movements , character of downtown, how will people get around, will it fit?”

Soler went on to say that Met Transit has experience with creating center-running routes, like the Green Line that runs on University Avenue.

There are additional in-person and virtual community meetings scheduled. The meetings will have a brief presentation followed by time to engage with project staff and ask questions. Residents are asked to stop by to learn about the evaluation of route options, ask questions, and provide feedback.

In-Person Community Meetings

Presentation starts at 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, January 11, 2022, 5 – 7 p.m., Elim Lutheran Church, 3978 W Broadway Ave., Robbinsdale, MN 55422
• Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 5 – 7 p.m., North Commons Recreation Center Gym, 1801 N James Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55411

Virtual Community Meetings

• Thursday, January 13, 2022, 5 – 7 p.m., Join Meeting

You can find meeting materials, request assistance to participate in the events, ways to share feedback, and the latest newsletter at the project website: www.BlueLineExt.org.

METRO Blue Line Extension seeking members for Anti-Displacement Workgroup
The METRO Blue Line Extension project is seeking applications from community members for a new Anti-Displacement Workgroup. Members will help guide anti-displacement strategies and policy development by providing personal insight, local expertise and direct connections to communities impacted by the project.
The Workgroup will be convened and led by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), under the principal leadership of C Terrence Anderson, CURA’s director of community-based research.
Applications will be accepted until Friday, January 14, 2022. To learn more and apply please visit: https://z.umn.edu/anti-displacement

Brooklyn Park | Crystal | Golden Valley | New Hope | Robbinsdale