Chance for community to weigh in on Blue Line Extension Thursday night

Community members have another chance to weigh in on the Metro Transit Blue Line Extension route on Thursday night.

A virtual community meeting is set to run from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., offering citizens the chance to share feedback and have questions answered.

RELATED: Officials recommend route for Blue Line Extension, ask for community input

The Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County released their recommended route that would extend the light rail from Target Field to Brooklyn Park.

“Now we’re back out in the community, seeing how they feel about this,” said Trevor Roy, Metro Blue Line Extension Spokesperson. 

Two years ago, a shared rail corridor with BNSF didn’t work out for this extension, so the Met Council came up with an updated route.

It makes stops in north Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn Park.

“If people coming from Target Field or wherever stop there, they’ll still manage to find their way over here,” said Amanda Carlyle, CFO of Wicked Wort Brewing Company.

Amanda Carlyle is part of the family-owned Wicked Wort Brewing Company in Downtown Robbinsdale, and they’d be just a short walk to the stop down the road.

“I’m just really glad that they decided to keep it more closely to the Bottineau/81 location,” Carlyle said. “Robbinsdale’s downtown is desirable for anyone coming into town because this is where it’s happening.”

“I thought it was a great idea,” said Terry Austin, Community Engagement Manager with the Northside Economic Opportunity Network or NEON.

Terry Austin is the Community Engagement Manager with the Northside Economic Opportunity Network and has been heavily involved in engaging the Northside community on this project.

“Historically, north Minneapolis has been disincluded for resources,” Austin said.

Austin hopes the existing residents and businesses are protected.

“They don’t want to have to be displaced and start all over again. They want to build their community,” Austin said. “Anytime we can bring more visibility to the Northside and visibility for small businesses to thrive in any way, it’s always a good thing.”

Project Spokesman Trevor Roy talked about how closely they’ve worked with the community on this.

“We’re sensitive to the community needs, we’re going to be neighbors for a long time so we want to make sure we build this right,” Roy said.

When asked if people should have concerns on the Blue Line Extension because of delays with the Southwest LRT project, Roy responded “I would say that they’re different projects, vastly different projects.”

If all goes as planned, the Blue Line Extension will open in 2028.

“You do have to be patient and wait for these things, it’s not like we’re going to get this crazy foot traffic tomorrow,” Carlyle said

If you’d like to participate in Thursday’s virtual community meeting, it goes until 7 p.m.

Additional community meetings are set for May 3 and May 5. Comments can also be filed online by May 18.

More information about the project is available online.