Partnerships and Investments

Community contributions

It takes collaboration and determination to build a light rail line. Planning for the Blue Line Extension has spanned over a 10-year time period. Throughout these efforts, there has been a strong level of partnership with agencies and communities at all levels. The Met Council and Hennepin County are working jointly to develop and deliver this project in close partnership with corridor cities and other agency and community partners, businesses and other stakeholder groups.

Cities and agency partners are already making plans and investments to prepare for light rail.

Brooklyn Park

  • Transit-oriented development (TOD) zoning gives direction to the design of buildings, sidewalks, parking, and other infrastructure. TOD zoning promotes walkability and a mixture of uses, such as office, retail, and residential. To make station areas in Brooklyn Park welcoming, pleasant, and accessible to all transit riders, the City of Brooklyn Park adopted Transit-oriented Development (TOD) zoning standards in July 2018. Based on years of station area planning, it was determined this is the best way to ensure high-quality development along the line.
  • The City of Brooklyn Park adopted station area plans for each of the five planned stations in the city in 2016. These plans are included in the city’s comprehensive plan and will guide future development to take advantage of the regional investment in light rail transit.
  • West Broadway streetscape manual​ was developed by the city in 2017 to define a vision that is responsive to city, county, and community concerns and ensures that the multi-modal infrastructure improvements are effectively integrated within the community.
  • Other road and safety improvements are planned to be incorporated​ adjacent to the corridor.
  • More information on investments in Brooklyn Park

Crystal

  • The Bass Lake Road station will improve pedestrian safety along and across Bottineau Blvd (County Road 81) to and from the station area​ with a grade separated interchange. This includes the reconstruction of Bass Lake Road to support a better pedestrian connection to Becker Park.

Robbinsdale

  • The station in downtown Robbinsdale will improve pedestrian safety and connections across Bottineau Boulevard (County Road 81) to downtown Robbinsdale.
  • Other road and safety improvements are planned to be incorporated along the corridor to improve walkability and community connections.

Minneapolis

  • Based on feedback received from the community and stakeholders, project staff will be constructing a 13th station in Minneapolis at the corner of Washington and West Broadway avenues at the same time as the rest of the project. This station was previously designed to be built at a future date after the line opened. 
  • Although the Blue Line Extension line would run along 21st Avenue between I-94 and James Avenue, additional improvements and related construction are also planned on West Broadway Avenue between Lyndale and James avenues. Infrastructure and streetscape improvements along this portion of West Broadway Avenue could include traffic calming and safety improvements, bike facilities, wider sidewalks, street lighting, updating infrastructure below the street like sewer and water facilities, improved traffic flow, and new green spaces. Provide your input on the vision for West Broadway and what improvements you’d like to see.
  • The alignment from 10th Avenue to Washington Avenue in the North Loop area is planned to be a transit mall, which will reduce vehicle traffic on 10th Avenue and allow for dedicated off-street pedestrian and bicycle facilities with connection to 2nd Street via a new off-street connection.
  • The Lowry station will open up park land and improve the connection from Theo Wirth to Victory Memorial Parkway in Grand Rounds.
  • An extension of 21st Avenue on a new bridge structure over I-94 is planned in North Minneapolis. The proposed concept is a multi-modal bridge that extends a city street over the interstate to connect a residential neighborhood on the west with a vibrant commercial area with jobs and recreation opportunities to the east. The bridge is intended to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, light rail, and vehicles with a potential opportunity for wide green space.