Potential station areas, visualizations and roll plots.
The METRO Blue Line Extension began seeking feedback in March 2021 on revised routes that do not use freight rail property as previously planned. Based on technical considerations, community input, and past project work, a route recommendation was released in April 2022. The documents below represent the recommended route for light rail to connect communities from Minneapolis northwest to Brooklyn Park.
Final designs and station locations will be refined based on community feedback and will be updated to include more details on bicycle, pedestrian, and landscape accommodations. This material is conceptual and intended to provide a frame of reference for community members to see how light rail could fit in their neighborhood.
Station areas and visualizations are current as of January 2023.
Brooklyn Park potential station areas , visualizations, and roll plots (PDF)
Brooklyn Park’s 90% plans are complete. 63rd Street station refinement is underway.
Robbinsdale potential station areas visualizations, and roll plots (PDF)
Currently working towards 30% design plans in Robbinsdale.
Crystal potential station areas visualizations, and roll plots (PDF)
Currently working towards 30% design plans in Crystal.
Minneapolis West Broadway & 21st Avenue potential station areas, visualizations, and roll plots (PDF)
Minneapolis East of 1-94 & Lyndale Avenue potential station areas, visualizations, and roll plots (PDF)
Multiple routes between Target Field and West Broadway are being evaluated.
Route evaluations
The final route modification reoport was released on May 2022. There was a 38 day public comment period. The Metroplitan Council and Hennepin County voted to advance the route on June 22, 2022.
The draft route modification report was released December 2021. There was a 45 day public comment period which informed the route recommendation released in April 2022.
The initial route modification report was released March 2021. It served as the base of analysis up to the draft modification report released in December 2021.
Station area planning
Hennepin County's Bottineau LRT Community Works program is looking at how transit stations will fit into surrounding neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life for people who live, work, play, visit, and worship in the corridor.
Examples of light rail structures on the METRO Blue and Green Lines
We have heard from many community members asking what the Blue Line Extension may look like in their neighborhood. This video shows several examples of how light rail can fit into existing neighborhoods and environments.