Met Council Approves $75M Grant for Blue Line Extension
Despite a push by some to “pump the brakes” on funding, the Metropolitan Council approved a grant agreement that advances the Bottineau Blue Line Extension light rail project.
The Met Council moved ahead with the $75 million grant on Wednesday.
The vote came after the Met Council decided to pause deliberation on the grant about three weeks ago while considering the funding agreement for the Southwest Green Line LRT project.
The Bottineau Blue Line extension is planned to run from Target Field in Minneapolis to northern Brooklyn Park.
The Metropolitan Council approved a $75 million grant agreement that advances the Bottineau Blue Line Extension light rail project.
Design Work for LRT
Officials with the Blue Line project office expect to use the funding from the grant to bring the design of the rail line to 30 percent completion.
“We create design plans that answer the questions a community would have about the impact of a project,” said Nick Thompson, Metro Transit deputy general manager. “So we’ll know exactly where the line, where the tracks are, which exact properties would be impacted by construction, how every intersection along the alignment will work, what the project will cost.”
They’ll also use the funds to move toward the municipal consent process. That is when project officials plan to ask cities along the line for consent to move ahead with the project, which is expected next year.
Met Council Opinions
Some members of the council opposed the grant due to concerns about ridership numbers and local support.
Met Council Member Deb Barber, a Shakopee resident, voted in favor of the proposal, but said that she had concerns about the organization’s ability to handle two “mega projects” at the same time.
“What is our post-COVID ridership?” she said. “I have concerns about the timing and capabilities.”
Meanwhile, Met Council Member Judy Johnson, a former mayor of Plymouth, voted against the grant agreement. She said that project officials should consider bus rapid transit as an option for the corridor.
“My communities, just as an example, don’t look at LRT as the bigger, better thing,” she said. “We don’t think so in most of my community.”
Johnson added that cities along the line, like Robbinsdale, continue to have concerns about the project.
“Some of them think it’s a done deal,” she said. “Just pump the breaks, let’s try to get Southwest done, let’s take a breath here.”
Metropolitan Council Members Susan Vento and Wendy Wulff also voted against the grant agreement.
Meanwhile, the Blue Line Corridor Management Committee will meet on Thursday. Project officials plan to ask representatives from cities along the line to approve the route in a non-binding vote.
See also: Met Council Unveils New Route Details for Bottineau Blue Line
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