metro Blue Line Extension

Community Meetings and Events

Community engagement

The Blue Line Extension project relies heavily on community voices when making decisions about the project, so make your ideas heard and help chart the future of the Blue Line.

One of the project’s guiding principles is that we move at the speed of trust. We will not move forward until we have meaningful community buy-in. Our engagement efforts must be robust, inclusive and flexible to ensure we have an alignment that provides maximum benefit for the community. Our project principles reflect this commitment to the public and we will continue to meaningfully engage with the community as this once in a generation investment moves forward.

In addition to advisory committee meetings, the Metropolitan Council provides other opportunities for public involvement:


Upcoming Blue Line Extension project events

 

Cultivate Arts Event: Disposable Camera Workshop
Saturday, November 4 | 11 – 11:30 a.m. 
North Commons Recreation Center
1801 N James Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Flyer (PDF)

Community Update Meeting
Wednesday, November 8 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. 
Metro Transit North Loop Garage, Room 104
600 North 8th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411
The meeting will provide a project update and facilitate a Q&A discussion with attendees on the latest updates in each corridor city. Let us know in this comment form what topics you would like to discuss or see in future meetings and presentations.

Cultivate Arts Event: Oral History Workshop
Saturday, November 11 | 11 a.m.– 1 p.m. 
North Commons Recreation Center
1801 N James Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Flyer (PDF)

Minneapolis Virtual Community Meeting
Tuesday, November 14 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Click here to join the meeting
Project staff are hosting a virtual community meeting about the Blue Line Extension in Minneapolis on Tuesday, November 14 to discuss the proposed North Loop and 21st Avenue alignment options.

Elevate Hennepin Workshop: Business Finance
Thursday, November 16 | 8:30 a.m
Brooklyn Park Small Business Center
7970 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
Flyer (PDF) | Learn more and register

Cultivate Arts Event: Zine Making Workshop
Saturday, December 2 | 11 a.m.– 1 p.m. 
North Commons Recreation Center
1801 N James Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Flyer (PDF)

Elevate Hennepin Workshop: Legal Services
Thursday, December 7 | 8:30 a.m
Online Event
Flyer (PDF) | Learn more and register

Past events

Quarterly meetings


Quarterly Meeting #1
Wednesday, August 23 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. 
Capri Theater
2027 West Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Other project meetings

 

Elevate Hennepin Workshop: Business Technology
Thursday, October 26 | 8:30 a.m
Online Event
Flyer (PDF) | Learn more and register

Cultivate Arts event at Brooklyn Park Spooktacular
Saturday, October 28 | 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. 
Zanewood Recreation Center
7100 Zane Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55429

Ward 5 Blue Line Extension Community Discussion
Monday, October 30 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Juxtaposition Arts
2007 N Emerson Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411
An opportunity for the community to hear more about the Blue Line Extension’s 21st Avenue route segment, share their perspectives, and ask questions. Minneapolis Ward 5 City Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison will facilitate a discussion followed by breakout group conversations on topics such as community, businesses, anti-displacement, and route design.

Workforce and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Meet and Greet
Tuesday, October 31 | 10 a.m. – noon
UROC, Room 105
2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Project staff are inviting Workforce and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) organizations to a mixer with the Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County to hear project updates and how the project is changing its approach to DBE and Workforce Planning. This is a continuation of a similar event we held earlier this summer.

Metro Transit Great Day in Transit
Wednesday, October 18 | 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Warehouse Blue Line Station
23 N 5th St, Minneapolis, MN 55403

BLRT North Loop Community Meeting
Wednesday, October 18 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Neu Neu
514 N 3rd St #101, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Minneapolis Community Meetings for East of I-94
July 25, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Metro Transit North Loop Garage, 812 North 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55411
July 22, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Twin Cities International School, 277 North 12th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
July 27, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | 

21st Ave Summer Block Party
Saturday, July 22 | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Sanctuary Covenant Church (updated location)
2018 N Aldrich Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Brooklyn Park Open House
Wednesday, June 28 from 6 - 8 p.m.
Brooklyn Park Library, Mississippi River Room
8500 W Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 | Google Map

Crystal Station Area Plan Update Open House
Thursday, June 22, 5 – 7 p.m.
Crystal Community Center, Crystal Room
4800 Douglas Drive North, Crystal, MN 55429 | Google Map

Workforce and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Meet and Greet
To ensure community opportunities to work on or subcontract on this major construction project, we are building up a network of relationships with key workforce and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) stakeholders in the corridor. We invited workforce and DBE organizations to a meet and greet with the Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County to hear project updates along with workforce and DBE opportunities.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023 from 10 a.m. - noon
5th floor conference room
1256 Penn Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411 | Google Map
Free parking ramp at Plymouth Ave entrance
Plymouth Avenue C Line BRT transit stop
Contact: Joan Vanhala at Joan.Vanhala@hennepin.us

Brooklyn Park business-focused meeting
May 24 from 8 - 9 a.m. at Brooklyn Park City Hall Council Chambers
Hosted by Metropolitan Council Member Reva Chamblis, Mayor Hollies J. Winston, and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Lunde. Project staff will meet with businesses in Brooklyn Park to share information on the Blue Line Extension, anti-displacement efforts in the project area, and the resources available to help businesses before, during, and after construction.

Virtual Community Meeting
May 17 | 5 – 6 p.m.

Minneapolis – Option 2 
Monday, April 17 | 5 – 7 p.m. 
Sanctuary Covenant Church 
710 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411 

Virtual Community Meeting
March 29 | 1 – 2 p.m. 

Minneapolis – Option 1 
Wednesday, March 22 | 5 – 7 p.m. 
Capri Theater 
2027 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411 

Virtual Check-in Session
Thursday, Feb. 23 | 5 - 6 p.m.

Brooklyn Park 
Monday, January 30 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. 
Brooklyn Park Library 
8500 W. Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 

Crystal 
Monday, February 27 | 5 – 7 p.m. 
Crystal Community Center, Forest Room 
4800 Douglas Dr N, Crystal, MN 55429 

Minneapolis - Target Field Station to West Broadway Route Options
Thurs, March 2 | 5 – 7 p.m.
Capri Theater
2027 West Broadway Ave Minneapolis, MN 55411

Robbinsdale 
Monday, March 6 | 5 – 7 p.m. 
Elim Church 
3978 West Broadway Ave, Robbinsdale, MN 55422 

Minneapolis - 21st Avenue vs West Broadway Route Options
Tues, March 7 | 5 – 7 p.m.
Cub Community Center 701 West Broadway Ave Minneapolis, MN 55411

Community meetings about the METRO Blue Line Extension route recommendation

 

A route recommendation identifies a new community-supported route to extend the existing Blue Line from Target Field station in Minneapolis to Crystal, Robbinsdale, and Brooklyn Park. We are hosting in-person and virtual community meetings to share the route recommendation, answer questions, and gather your feedback.

In-Person Community Workshops 


Monday, November 14 – Heritage Park Neighborhood Association Board Meeting
Heritage Park Leasing Office
1000 Olson Memorial Highway
Minneapolis
 
Saturday, November 17 – West Broadway Business Coalition Luncheon
Episcopal Church
1101 West Broadway Avenue
Minneapolis

Minneapolis 
Meeting Materials

  • Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 5 – 7 p.m., Episcopal Church in MN – Gathering Space. 1101 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis.
Brooklyn Park 
Meeting Materials
  • Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 5 – 7 p.m., Brooklyn Park Library – Mississippi River Room. 8500 West Broadway Avenue, Brooklyn Park.
Robbinsdale 
Meeting Materials
  • Tuesday, October 25, 2022, 5 – 7 p.m., Elim Lutheran Church - Gym. 
    3978 West Broadway Avenue, Robbinsdale.
Crystal  
Meeting Materials
  • Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 5 – 7 p.m., Crystal Community Center – Forest Room.  
    4800 Douglas Drive North, Crystal.
Virtual Meetings
  • Thursday, October 20, 2022, 5 – 6 p.m.
  • Friday, October 21, 2022, noon – 1p.m.
 

The METRO Blue Line Extension project is exploring multiple options for the route between Target Field Station and West Broadway and between Lyndale Avenue and Irving Avenue in Minneapolis.

We hosted in-person and virtual community workshops in September to review the route options in these areas, answered questions and gathered feedback. The in-person meetings were focused on the specific route locations listed below.

The input will help us refine the route options in Minneapolis to advance through environmental review, engineering and station area planning.

In-Person Community Meetings

Join us at either meeting for a focused discussion on the route options from Target Field Station to West Broadway.

 

Target Field Station to West Broadway Route Options

  • Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 5 – 7 p.m., Encouraging Leaders, 121 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
  • Wednesday, September 28, 2022, 5 – 7 p.m., Franklin Middle School – Auditorium, 1501 N Aldrich Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55412

Virtual Workshops

Virtual meetings will cover the same overview of route options under consideration in Minneapolis. Join us for a presentation, live Q&A and survey during the meeting.
 

  • Thursday, September 22, 2022, 5 – 6:30 p.m. Workshop video replay
  • Wednesday, September 28, 2022, noon – 1:30 p.m.

Lyn-Park Driveway Chats

  • Wednesday, July 20, 2022 5:30 - 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday, July 27, 2022 5:30 - 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 3, 2022 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Lyn-Park Neighborhood Meeting
5 PM - 7 PMTuesday, May 17, 2022,
Shiloh Temple
1201 W. Broadway Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55411
 

Tuesday, May 3, 2022, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Mississippi River Room at Brooklyn Park Library
8500 West Broadway Avenue
Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 

Thursday, May 5, 2022, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Forest Room at Crystal Community Center
4800 Douglas Dr N
Crystal, MN 55429 

Tuesday, May 3, 2022, Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
April Open House Exhibits

Thursday, April 28, 2022,
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
April Open House Exhibits
Video
 

Tuesday, April 26, 2022,
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Gathering Space at Episcopal Church in MN
1101 West Broadway Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55411 
April Open House Exhibits.

Wednesday, April 27, 2022,
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Gym at Elim Lutheran Church
3978 West Broadway Avenue
Robbinsdale, MN 55422 
April Open House Exhibits.

March 15, 2022
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Presentation
Video

January events presentation (PDF)

January 13, 2022
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Video

January 12, 2022
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
North Commons Recreation Center Gym
1801 North James Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Minneapolis exhibits (PDF)

January 11, 2022
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Elim Lutheran Church
3978 West Broadway Avenue
Robbinsdale, MN 55422
Robbinsdale exhibits (PDF)

January 7, 2022
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Video

January 6, 2022
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Crystal City Hall (Basement)
Community Room
4141 Douglas Drive North
Minneapolis, MN 55429
Crystal exhibits (PDF)

January 4, 2022
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Gathering Hall located in the Center For Business at North Hennepin Community College
7411 85th Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Brooklyn Park exhibits (PDF)



 

Contact us if you require assistance to participate in these events

Requests for special assistance should be made at least five business days in advance of the scheduled open house.

Blue Line Extension Manager of Public Involvement

Nkongo Cigolo
612-373-3825
Nkongo.Cigolo@Metrotransit.org

Minneapolis community workshops 
November 2021
The community was invited to attend in-person and virtual workshops in November. We had updated design concepts and shared opportunities and challenges for LRT options.

Minneapolis community meeting
Saturday, December 4
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
North Regional Library
1315 Lowry Ave. N
Minneapolis, MN 55411

Brooklyn Park community meeting
Monday, December 6
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Community Activity Center Gardenview Room
5600 85th Ave N
Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

Minneapolis community workshop
Tuesday, November 9
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Episcopal Church of Minnesota
1101 W Broadway Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55411

Minneapolis community workshop
Tuesday, November 16
5 - 7 P.M.
Paradise Hall at Capri Theater
2027 W Broadway Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55411

Virtual workshop
Monday, November 15
5 - 7 P.M.
Video
Presentation (PDF)

Robbinsdale open house
Wednesday, October 27
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Elim Lutheran Church
3978 West Broadway Avenue
Robbinsdale, MN 55422
Materials (PDF)

Crystal Town Hall
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Crystal Community Center
4800 Douglas Dr. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55429
Materials (PDF)

County Road 81 virtual event
July 29, 2021
Video
Presentation (PDF)

Minneapolis virtual event
July 28, 2021
Video
Presentation (PDF)

Crystal open house
July 26, 2021

Full corridor virtual event
July 23, 2021
Video
Presentation (PDF)

Brooklyn Park virtual event
July 22, 2021
Video
Presentation (PDF)

Brooklyn Park house
July 21, 2021

Minneapolis open house
July 20, 2021

Robbinsdale open house
July 19, 2021

Community Meeting hosted by Met Council Member Reva Chamblis
June 29, 2021
Presentation (PDF)

Robbinsdale section
June 9, 2021
Presentation (PDF)
Video

Robbinsdale section
April 28, 2021
Presentation (PDF)
Video

Online listening session
March 30, 2021
Presentation (PDF)
Video

Online listening session
March 30, 2021
Presentation (PDF)
Video

Online listening session
March 25, 2021
Presentation (PDF)
Video

Online listening sessions
February 4 - 5, 2021
Listening session presentation (PDF)

West Broadway Reconstruction Between 71st Ave. and 74th Ave.

November 2, 2017
A public open house in Brooklyn Park on the design of West Broadway Avenue reconstruction that was added to the Blue Line Extension project. More information | Printable event flyer [PDF]

Project Update and 60% Design Plans

March and April 2017
A series of public open houses in communities along the Blue Line Extension route, hosted by the Metropolitan Council. These events provided an opportunity to learn about recent progress and the current status of the METRO Blue Line Extension project. More information

Design Update and Early Construction Activities

October 10, 2017
Public open house to provide information about the current status of the light rail project and preview early construction activities in Minneapolis, beginning in Fall 2017. Topics include relocation of the Bassett Creek stormwater tunnel and temporary closure of Olson Memorial Highway, station design and station area planning, and design concepts for overhead catenary system (OCS) poles in the Olson Memorial Highway area.

Robbinsdale Historic Properties

On December 14, 2016, the Metropolitan Council hosted a neighborhood design consultation on the West Broadway Avenue Residential Historic District in Robbinsdale. More information

November 2016 Station Design Open Houses

These open houses provided an opportunity for the public to review station design concepts and learn about the station design process. More information

LRT Visual Screening between Bass Lake Road and 62nd Avenue

On October 17, 2016, the Blue Line Extension Project and the City of Crystal held an open house and meeting regarding visual screening along the BNSF corridor between Bass Lake Road and 62nd Avenue. More information

LRT Visual Screening between Bass Lake Road and 62nd Avenue

On May 24, 2016, the Blue Line Extension Project and the City of Crystal held a public meeting and open house focusing on visual screening options in the BNSF corridor between Bass Lake Road and 62nd Avenue. More information

Pedestrian crossing options at the planned 63rd Avenue Light Rail Transit Station

On May 9, 2016, the Metropolitan Council and City of Brooklyn Park held a public open house and technical presentation at the Brooklyn Park City Hall. More information

Municipal Consent

On January 19, 2016, the Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County Board of Commissioners and Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority held a public open house and joint public hearing at the Minneapolis Central Library in downtown Minneapolis. More information

October 2015 Environmental Analysis Open Houses

The Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County hosted a series of public open houses in October 2015 for the public to learn about the environmental analysis conducted for the METRO Blue Line Extension light rail transit project. More information

39½ Avenue Railroad Crossing Meeting in Robbinsdale

The METRO Blue Line Extension project hosted a meeting on whether to close the 39½ Avenue railroad crossing. The public was invited to learn more about the proposal, ask questions and provide feedback. Public comments will be considered before making a design recommendation to the City of Robbinsdale and Metropolitan Council. Comments received

July/August 2015 Open Houses

The METRO Blue Line Extension project hosted a series of open houses in July and August 2015 where the public can learn more about the project and provide feedback about proposed stations, parking and pedestrian/bike access. More information

May/June 2015 Open Houses

The Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County hosted four open houses to learn about the METRO Blue Line Extension light rail project and provide feedback about the proposed stations and light rail alignment. More information

West Broadway Reconstruction Community Meetings, March 19 and April 7, 2015

The Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County hosted community meetings on March 19 and April 7, 2015 to engage the public on potential West Broadway roadway concepts. More information

West Broadway Reconstruction Community Meeting, March 5, 2015

The Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County hosted a community meetings on March 5, 2015 to engage the public on potential West Broadway roadway concepts. More information

Station Location Open Houses, February 2015

The Metropolitan Council hosted a community workshop on February 26, 2015 to receive public input on potential locations for LRT stations intended to serve residents of Golden Valley and North Minneapolis. More information

 

METRO Blue Line Extension

Blue Line Extension Project Office
Park Place West Building, Suite 600
6465 Wayzata Boulevard
St. Louis Park, MN 55426

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Blue Line Extension