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The Blue Line Extension has been in planning for many years. In late 2020, project partners announced a new direction that would serve even more people and destinations, while maintaining as much of a previously-explored route as possible.
Project partners are working closely with community partners and other stakeholders to advance the project and plan for community and economic development near station areas. And this will work continue for the next few years.
This website supplements the project website managed by the Metropolitan Council. YourBlueLine.org is a place for people like you to learn about past engagement work and offer your voice – including to discuss potential project policies and share feedback on how this project will shape the various communities along the Blue Line Extension corridor.
This is your Blue Line. Welcome.
The Blue Line Extension has been in planning for many years. In late 2020, project partners announced a new direction that would serve even more people and destinations, while maintaining as much of a previously-explored route as possible.
Project partners are working closely with community partners and other stakeholders to advance the project and plan for community and economic development near station areas. And this will work continue for the next few years.
This website supplements the project website managed by the Metropolitan Council. YourBlueLine.org is a place for people like you to learn about past engagement work and offer your voice – including to discuss potential project policies and share feedback on how this project will shape the various communities along the Blue Line Extension corridor.
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Decision making and committees
The Blue Line Extension project is co-lead by Hennepin County and the Metropolitan Council. All major final decisions on the project are ultimately approved by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners and the Metropolitan Council. These decisions are informed by a variety of advisory groups described below.
Metropolitan Council advisory groups
Corridor Management Committee (CMC)
Purpose: Advises the Metropolitan Council on design and construction of the proposed light rail line.
Membership: Elected representatives and policymakers from Hennepin County, Met Council, and corridor cities, along with representatives from other community and stakeholder organizations and the business and community advisory committee
Purpose: Provides policymaker direction to the Hennepin County Bottineau Community Works program, which leads planning with corridor cities to maximize community and economic development benefits and opportunities in the light rail corridor
Membership: Elected officials and policymakers from Hennepin County, Metropolitan Council, and corridor cities
Contact: Kerri Pearce Ruch, Bottineau Community Works program coordinator, kerri.pearceruch@hennepin.us, 612-348-3080
Purpose: Provide Hennepin County, Metropolitan Council, corridor cities and other agency and community partners with action-oriented recommendations for strategies and policies to prevent displacement, promote equitable development, and create community wealth-building opportunities
Membership: Representatives from agencies, cities, communities, and other stakeholder groups
Contact: TBD
Community Engagement Cohort
Purpose: Support project outreach and engagement activities by meaningfully engaging stakeholders from diverse communities to co-create project solutions that reduce disparities
Membership: 14 community and cultural organizations representing geographic and cultural groups from throughout the corridor
Planning and engineering work for the previous route. Learn more about the history of this project at www.BlueLineExt.org
2017-2018
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Engineering phase, including advancing design and engineering plans for the line. For more information on the design and engineering work done to date on the project, visit BlueLineExt.org.
August 2020
About has finished this stage
Hennepin County and the Metropolitan Council issued a joint statement (Read Here) on advancing the project without using 8 miles of freight railroad right-of-way.
2020-2021
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The project team will explore community supported alignments that mitigate the use of freight rail property.
March 2021
About has finished this stage
Metropolitan Council and Hennepin release revised potential route options.
Engagement to ID a community supported route: Summer 2021
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Community Engagement Process begins to identify route and station options.
Environmental review: 1.5-2 years
About is currently at this stage
Environmental review: Once a community supported route is identified, project staff begin to work out the details through an environmental review process that documents impacts and benefits of the proposed route. This process can take 1.5 to 2 years to complete.
Engineering: 1.5-2 years
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Develop construction ready design plans.
Construction and Full Funding Grant Agreement: 3-4 years
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Goal for line opening: 2028-2030
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Light rail projects are complex and unforeseen challenges arise. Schedules and timelines are subject to change.
