The future of the Blue Line Extension, a 13-mile light rail extension running from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park, is uncertain after a committee of local elected officials, appointed Metropolitan Council members, and community members identified a budget gap of around $200 million. The gap must be addressed before the project can apply for critical federal funding, exceeding $750 million.
Last week, we joined other transportation organizations in asking Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and Metropolitan Council Chair Robin Hutcheson to close the project’s funding gap. We emphasized the need for a strong federal application and to plan ahead to build the extension with anti-displacement protections in place.
As an organization with work rooted in North Minneapolis along Olson Memorial Highway and the communities throughout the Blue Line Extension corridor, we wrote this letter to support this transit investment paired with strong community engagement that protects and prioritizes the needs of existing residents.
In today’s hostile federal environment, a local delay alone is a decision that threatens the project’s completion. Every month without a plan increases the project’s cost and puts $753 million in federal funding at risk—roughly 21% of the project’s total cost.
We ask you to use your authority to publicly defend this important transit investment for Minnesota and to transparently share your plan and timeline.
Excerpt from the Our Streets letter to decision-makers regarding the Blue Line Extension
You can join us in supporting the Blue Line Extension project by emailing the following decision-makers:
[email protected], Gov. Walz Chief of Staff
[email protected], Gov. Walz Dept Chief of Staff
[email protected], Gov. Walz Dept Chief of Staff for Policy and Leg Affairs
[email protected], Gov. Walz Assistant Chief of Staff for Policy and Leg Affairs
[email protected], Gov. Walz Policy Advisor
[email protected], Metropolitan Council Chair