Minneapolis’ METRO Blue Line Extension Gains Federal Approval

Minneapolis’ planned METRO Blue Line light rail extension has received federal environmental clearance, enabling the project to move forward to detailed design and eventual construction.

The METRO Blue Line Extension is a proposed 13.4-mile (21.6 km) light rail route connecting downtown Minneapolis with North Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn Park. The scheme is intended to improve transport links within the north-west metropolitan corridor for residents and visitors.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has signed the Amended Record of Decision for the Blue Line Extension’s Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS), completing a multi-year process of environmental assessment and public consultation.

As part of the approval, the project will include two new funding programmes aimed at supporting those affected by construction:

• Business Support Programme – A 5 million USD fund offering up to 30,000 USD per business in rent assistance for enterprises affected by construction.
• Community Investment Fund – A 5 million USD scheme providing grants to community organisations for initiatives such as rent and housing cost assistance, with the aim of helping existing residents remain in their neighbourhoods.

Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando said:

This is the first time this type of support for residents and businesses impacted by construction has been included in a major project in Minnesota. The Blue Line Extension will connect thousands of people to new opportunities to work, go to school, and access healthcare. It is a generational investment in communities where many people rely on transit to get where they need to go every day.

Light rail projects, more than any other mode of transit, generate significant economic and community investment. This project will unlock long-overdue investment in some of our state’s most vibrant communities. The strategies included in this project’s environmental documents will help make sure this investment benefits the people there today and the generations that will follow.

The environmental documentation also addresses issues such as noise and vibration, parking provision and property impacts.

A public engagement process is scheduled to begin in autumn 2025 to inform the development of the community support programmes. The Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County will continue to work with federal partners as the project progresses towards a Full Funding Grant Agreement and eventual start of construction.

Metropolitan Council Chair Charlie Zelle said:

This milestone represents a significant investment in our region's future. It brings us closer to advancing our regional transit vision to create jobs, improve mobility, and strengthen communities.