June 2022: Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County advance route recommendation.
April 2022: Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County release recommended revised route
December 2022: Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County release draft route modification report.
March 2021: Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County release revised potential route options.
2020 – 2021: The project team exploreed community-supported alignments that mitigate the use of freight rail property.
August 2020: Hennepin County and the Metropolitan Council issued a joint statement on advancing the project without using 8 miles of freight railroad right-of-way.
2017 – 2018: Engineering phase, including advancing design and engineering plans for the line.
January 2017: FTA approved the Blue Line Extension project to enter the Engineering phase of the New Starts process. The Engineering phase includes completing third-party agreements and finalizing design, including coming to agreement with BNSF regarding co-location of freight and light rail for approximately 8 miles in the corridor.
September 2016: FTA issued a Record of Decision. Metropolitan Council approved the final scope and budget and the environmental Determination of Adequacy, and submitted application to enter the Engineering phase of the FTA’s New Starts funding process.
July 2016: FTA and Metropolitan Council published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
March 2016: In the Municipal Consent process, cities along the Blue Line Extension route and Hennepin County reviewed and approved preliminary design plans.
August 2014: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the Blue Line Extension to enter the Project Development phase. The Metropolitan Council became the project lead with the transfer of Responsible Government Unit status from Hennepin County.
Spring 2014: Station area planning work, led by Hennepin County, began in the spring of 2014. Station area plans were developed for each station and were adopted by their respective cities in 2015 through 2016.
March 2014: The Bottineau Transitway Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published.
May 2013: The Metropolitan Council adopted the route and mode recommended by HCRRA as the Locally Preferred Alternative in the regional 2030 Transportation Policy Plan.
June 2012: The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) recommended construction of light rail along West Broadway Avenue in Brooklyn Park, the BNSF Railroad (BNSF) corridor, and Olson Memorial Highway/Trunk Highway 55.
March 2010: Final Alternatives Analysis Study report published.