Dozens express concerns about light rail expansion at Minneapolis meeting

MINNEAPOLIS — Travel along highway 81 between Minneapolis and Robbinsdale, and you'll see them: Signs opposing the expansion of the Metro Transit Blue Line, on both lawns and businesses.

The issue brought a few-dozen to the podium at a Minneapolis city meeting Thursday, where they expressed concerns about impacts on churches, businesses and residents whose homes would be right next to the tracks.

The roughly $3 billion project extends the Blue Line from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park. Metro Transit said the investment in public transit will provide health benefits and investment in communities often left behind.

A spokesperson for the Blue Line said the project is only about 30 percent planned out at this point, but is on track to start serving riders in 2030.

"It's the cost, it's the safety, it's the displacement of the vehicle traffic," said Crystal Mayor Jim Adams.

Crystal is one of several cities the Blue Line is set to expand through. One of Adam's major concerns is the impact the line would have on highway 81, which goes straight through town and would run right alongside the light rail. Adams said current plans shrink the highway down from six lanes to four, which would create traffic concerns.

The Met Council said each city along the route will have through October 10th to vote on the plans.

The way things stand now, Adams said he would have to vote no. Cities that do this would need to submit the changes they want to see by October 10th.