Green rail lines with icons of people in a meeting and person sitting by a tree. Text says: "Connecting Communities"

METRO BLUE LINE

The METRO Blue Line connects communities

The METRO Blue Line has promoted considerable housing and commercial development, while connecting residents to essential services, grocery stores, small businesses, jobs, parks, public facilities, event spaces, and neighborhoods.

History of the METRO Blue Line

The Metropolitan Council broke ground for the METRO Blue Line in 2001, with the line starting service in 2004. The project brought together the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis, and the City of Bloomington to fully realize the Blue Line as it is today.

Community members' input helped shaped the transitway. The Community Advisory Committee, a 40-member group, kept residents, transit users, and the public involved by sharing their input with the Metropolitan Council and the rest of the project team.

What is happening on the Blue Line?

We're connecting communities.

Billions of dollars invested along the Blue Line transitway brings homes, jobs, businesses, and more to the metro area that residents can easily and affordably access. The Blue Line connects to the METRO Green Line, A Line, C Line, D Line, and Red Line. This lets riders reach Minneapolis, Bloomington, St. Paul, Richfield, Burnsville, Brooklyn Center, Roseville, and Apple Valley with just one connecting ride.

The Blue Line serves Minneapolis and Bloomington, connecting downtown Minneapolis with the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America. The Blue Line is an essential transit option that supports these communities.

Homes are being built.

2,800 homes were built along the METRO Blue Line in 2022. Thousands of new homes are expected to be added along the transitway, with almost $900 million in planned residential development.

The most common type of residential development built along transitways is multifamily homes. This supports sustainable land use. Expanding multifamily housing lets the region increase housing options while prioritizing sustainable land use.

Housing is expensive. Development along the Blue Line helps address this issue. Nearly 22% of housing built along the Blue Line since 2014 is affordable. This affordably connects economically disadvantaged residents with affordable housing, jobs, businesses, and communities.

Businesses have the opportunity to grow.

With $472 million planned for commercial development, businesses and entrepreneurs along the Blue Line will see new opportunities for growth. This investment will expand the already vibrant business environment, supporting local economies and job creation.

Communities invest in amenities and connections where we build transit.
Nearly $225 million is planned for schools, churches, and other community spaces and amenities along the Blue Line. That investment will connect residents with more parks, walking and biking paths, public facilities, and more.

We're creating jobs.

$20 million will be spent along the Blue Line to expand facilities, factories, and more. This brings new job opportunities to the area. These industrial sites will be easily accessible to residents, promoting economic growth and workforce development.

The METRO Blue Line continues to enrich the lives of all those who live near the Blue Line. Learn more about the METRO Blue Line.

Notes: Information based on data from the 2023 development trends report. 2024 data will be available soon. Market forces will impact when developments open. For more information, view the full development trends report or contact the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) office at [email protected].