METRO Blue Line Extension

Join us Wednesday, October 30 from 5–7 p.m. for a community meeting where project staff will provide a quarterly project update and facilitate a Q&A discussion with community.

Topics will include project status, schedule, anti-displacement efforts, environmental review, municipal consent outcomes, and engagement opportunities coming up. The meeting will focus on project updates in Minneapolis but will also share updates on the whole route.

https://www.facebook.com/events/336056862897620

Join us for the first annual Cultivate Arts Celebration, October 24 at North Hennepin Community College.

The celebration will feature live performances and interactive workshops to highlight and build connections among the Blue Line Extension communities.

RSVP for the event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-annual-cultivate-arts-celebration-tickets-1020928854687

All four cities and Hennepin County have voted to approve Preliminary Design plans for the Blue Line Extension project. Of the 38 elected officials who voted, 33 voted to approve the plans. There's a lot of hard work left to do, and we look forward to doing it in close partnership with our public and community partners.

Get involved in shaping the future of the Blue Line Extension!

Join us at Brooklyn Park City Hall (B107, Multipurpose Room) for an open house. Share your input on the METRO Blue Line Extension project before the City Council’s Municipal Consent vote in September. Your feedback is crucial—don't miss out!

Learn more at www.brooklynpark.org/city-projects/light-rail-transit/ -updates

What is the municipal consent process? Learn more about how cities and the county review and approve preliminary design plans for the project:
https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Light-Rail-Projects/METRO-Blue-Line-Extension/Design-Engineering/Municipal-Consent.aspx

The Blue Line Light Rail Extension Open House is next Wednesday, August 21, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Elim Lutheran Church. Make sure to stop by to share your thoughts on the Blue Line project with your Robbinsdale City Council members, including the newly elected Ward 2 representative.

Can't make it to the open house? Visit www.robbinsdalemn.com/bluelinesurvey to fill out the same survey that will be distributed at the event.

Thank you for joining us for a tour!

Come tell your transportation story!

Cultivate Artist Marlina Gonzales will be joined by project staff this evening at the Brooklyn Park Farmers Market and on Saturday at the Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market in Crystal, asking attendees to share and record their personal stories about moving, commuting, and traveling.

Find us tonight between 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the market in North Hennepin Community College’s parking lot and Saturday, August 17 between 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market, across the street from HyVee.

Join in tonight for project updates and to explore opportunities for input!

DreamNorth! A new engagement initiative aimed at increasing local resident involvement in the Blue Line Extension planning.

DreamNorth offers residents the chance to:
Receive updates about the project.
Participate in visioning and mapping sessions.
Explore opportunities for design and development.

The focus throughout these sessions is to ensure your voices are heard and your ideas are integrated into the future of our community.
Let’s come together to shape a better tomorrow!

Thank you to everyone who commented on the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the project. The comments received during this period will go on to inform the Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement, which will outline specific project commitments to address potential impacts and maximize benefits of light rail for communities.

The Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be published in mid-2025 and will include another public comment opportunity.

The Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement feedback period closes next week! Those still looking to provide feedback can do so through an online survey, email, or voice message.

Review the document and comment: https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Light-Rail-Projects/METRO-Blue-Line-Extension/Environmental/Supplemental-Draft-EIS.aspx

Starting in August, cities and the county will start the official review and approval process of preliminary design plans.

Known as Municipal Consent, this major milestone builds on years of collaborative planning and includes official local review and feedback on the major design elements of the project.

Learn more about the Municipal Consent process and how you can participate: https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Light-Rail-Projects/METRO-Blue-Line-Extension/Design-Engineering/Municipal-Consent.aspx

Thank you to all who came out to the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement public hearings. Those still looking to provide feedback can do so through the online survey or by emailing their comments.

Review the document and comment: https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Light-Rail-Projects/METRO-Blue-Line-Extension/Environmental/Supplemental-Draft-EIS.aspx

We want your feedback on our Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement!

These comments help inform how the project will mitigate possible impacts of the project, as well as maximizing its benefits to riders. To get the best results, project staff need to draw on the lived experience of the people who live, work, and do business in our region.

Individuals can give their comments on the document from now through August 6. Learn more about the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and ways to comment: https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Light-Rail-Projects/METRO-Blue-Line-Extension/Environmental/Supplemental-Draft-EIS.aspx

We want to hear from you!

The Met Council and Federal Transit Administration have prepared a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the METRO Blue Line Extension project.

The document looks at potential benefits and impacts that may occur due to the design, construction, and operation of the Blue Line Extension, and outlines potential ways to avoid or reduce impacts.

Individuals can give their comments on the document from now through August 6. Your comments will help determine commitments to address potential impacts, which will be documented in the Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement, which will be published in 2025.

Learn more about this document and ways to comment:

Supplemental Draft EIS - Metropolitan Council The Metropolitan Council and the Federal Transit Administration have prepared a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the METRO Blue Line Extension project. This document evaluates the potential social, economic, and environmental benefits and impacts that may occur because o...

This week, Blue Line staff is completing exploratory fieldwork in Crystal and Minneapolis. Crews will be drilling retaining wall borings near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard, and drilling retaining wall and bridge borings in the Lowry Bridge area.

Fieldwork completed by our crews help inform the planning, engineering, and environmental process. Learn more about fieldwork: https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Light-Rail-Projects/METRO-Blue-Line-Extension/Fieldwork.aspx

What will travel times look like with the Blue Line Extension?

Our estimated travel times for the Blue Line Extension light rail will, in most cases, cut current transit travel times in half, and in some cases is comparable to driving your car.

View our estimated travel times to a few popular locations here: https://metrocouncil.org/News-Events/Transportation/Newsletters/Travel-times-blue-line-2024.aspx

This week, Blue Line staff is completing exploratory fieldwork in Robbinsdale, continuing to drill retaining wall borings at the intersection of County Road 81 and 42nd Avenue. Crews will also be drilling bridge and retaining wall borings for the Lowry bridge.

Fieldwork completed by our crews help inform the planning, engineering, and environmental process. Learn more about fieldwork: https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Light-Rail-Projects/METRO-Blue-Line-Extension/Fieldwork.aspx

Did you miss the open house events? View presentation materials and other upcoming events here: https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Light-Rail-Projects/METRO-Blue-Line-Extension/Community-Engagement/Meetings-and-Materials.aspx