The METRO Blue Line Extension project has already entered a new phase, called the municipal consent phase. Now it is time for you and local city governments to review and comment on the physical designs of our next light rail investment.
This light rail project will extend the existing Blue Line 13.4 miles northwest and add 12 new stations, which can be seen on the map below. The line will run from Target Field Station in downtown Minneapolis to the communities of North Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 or 2027, with an opening planned for 2030.
While members of the community and local city governments cannot demand that this project become a bus rapid transit line (since that would require an entirely new project and the Metropolitan Council has already ruled out BRT), they can request reasonable changes to the physical design. Local city governments cannot vote against the project, but can say “no” and make it subject to certain conditions that the city must meet to receive approval. If a city does not take action by the October 10 deadline, it is an automatic approval.
Comments and conditions on combating displacement cannot be addressed with community consent as they are not part of the design of the project. Instead, feedback can be directed to the project team and the newly published Coordinated Action Plan on Combating Displacement.
You can help shape the physical design of the project by submitting comments now through October 10, 2024. Public comments on the physical design can be submitted by mail, email, through an online comment form, or at a public comment event.
The City of Crystal recently held an open house and public hearing on municipal consent, and the City of Robbinsdale followed that event with an open house the next day. A joint public hearing involving several agencies, including the Metropolitan Council, was held on Monday, August 26.
Further input options can be found below.
Take action!
For more information on municipal approval, visit the Municipal Approval page on the project website. You can also read a MinnPost article that goes into detail about the municipal approval process for the Blue Line Extension.
Check out the physical design plans: Complete construction plans are available at several libraries and at the Blue Line Extension project office in St. Louis Park. City-specific construction plans are available at city halls and libraries. For more information, see the plan documents page on the project website.
Comment on the construction plans: A list of email and postal addresses and further information can be found on the Comments page on the project website.
Public hearing in Robbinsdale:
Tuesday, September 3 | 7 p.m.
Robbinsdale City Hall
4100 Lakeview Ave. N, Robbinsdale
For more information and to comment, visit the City of Robbinsdale website.
Open Day at Brooklyn Park:
Monday, September 9, 2024 | 4-6 p.m.
Brooklyn Park City Hall – Multipurpose Room – First Floor
5200 85th Avenue N, Brooklyn Park
Public hearing in Brooklyn Park:
Monday, September 23, 2024 | 6 p.m.
Brooklyn Park City Hall – City Council Chambers
5200 85th Avenue N, Brooklyn Park
For more information and to comment, visit the City of Brooklyn Park website.
Public hearing in Minneapolis:
Thursday, September 12 | 1:30 p.m.
Citizen Service Center, Room 350
250 S. Fourth Ave., Minneapolis
For more information and to comment, visit the City of Minneapolis website.
