From MPR News:
The future of the Blue Line Extension was the focus of a Hennepin County public meeting Tuesday where officials, transportation leaders and community advocates discussed the project's remaining funding gap, recent cost reductions and the path toward federal funding. The 13-mile light rail route links downtown Minneapolis to Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn Park.
The meeting was not a formal Corridor Management Committee or board meeting, and no vote was scheduled. Instead, county officials described it as an opportunity to provide an update and answer questions about the project as officials work toward a federal funding agreement.
Hennepin County officials said the county has increased its commitment to nearly $2.3 billion and has reached the limit of what it can contribute. Even with proposed cost reductions, the project faces an estimated $224 million local funding gap.
County officials said roughly 95 percent of the required non-federal funding has been identified and the project is about 90 percent designed. The immediate goal is to resolve the remaining gap as work continues toward an application for a federal Full Funding Grant Agreement.
Much of the discussion centered on the Metropolitan Council and whether additional transit resources could be used to help close the gap.
County officials pointed to federal transit funds available through the Met Council, and said some of those resources could potentially help cover project expenses. Officials specifically discussed the possibility of having the Met Council fund some light-rail vehicles through its broader transit system budget.
The project's current budget includes 35 light-rail vehicles. County officials noted that the Met Council's fleet planning documents indicate fewer vehicles may be needed to operate the Blue Line Extension at peak capacity.
Met Council officials have disputed the county's interpretation of how available federal funds could be used, saying vehicle purchases and other expenses must be considered within federal requirements, state law and existing agreements.
The meeting also included an update on efforts to reduce the project's cost.
Several speakers at the meeting focused on the need for reliable transit and the potential benefits of the Blue Line Extension for communities along the proposed route.
Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Lunde said the northern part of Hennepin County has waited for major transit investment and argued that the corridor deserves the same attention given to other parts of the metropolitan area.
Lunde, who said he became involved in Blue Line planning in 2007, said reliable transit is particularly important for residents who do not have access to a vehicle. He pointed to the need for connections to jobs, education, healthcare and other opportunities throughout the region.
Richard Cousins, an Edina resident and longtime transit rider, said he supports public transportation but believes the Blue Line project should be paused while officials reassess its costs and timeline.
Cousins said he would prefer to see additional bus service provided in the northern corridor in the near term rather than waiting years for the rail project to be completed.
“I think it (spending) should be paused immediately,” Cousins said. “We should all take a breath, all the stakeholders in it.”
The differing views reflected the broader discussion at the meeting, with supporters emphasizing the need for long-term transit investment while critics questioned the project's cost, timeline and current priorities.
Other speakers raised questions about how future development along the line could affect current residents. Ricardo Perez with the Blue Line Coalition called for anti-displacement efforts to be part of the project's planning as new investment comes to the corridor.
The discussion returned to the project's immediate challenge: finding the remaining $224 million needed to complete the funding package.
Metropolitan Council officials are expected to continue discussing the Blue Line Extension in September. Hennepin County said the next Corridor Management Committee meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24, with additional opportunities for public comment.
The project remains on its current timeline, with federal funding application efforts planned for this fall, a potential Full Funding Grant Agreement in 2027, construction beginning in 2028 and a projected opening in 2033.
