Businesses band against the Blue Line Extension

A big red circle slashes through a blue train and the sign for CR 81 with large text on top says “Light Rail...alternatives?”

SLR81 signs have been popping up around the city of Robbinsdale. Marna’s Eatery and Lounge, Hackenmueller’s Meat Market, Sipes Car Care Center and Wicked Wort Brewing Company are just a few businesses now sporting the sign.

What is SLR81? It is a group of people who seek to stop the current Metropolitan (MET) Council’s Blue Line Extension project. Presently the plan is to run a train down County Road 81 connecting Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park, traveling through Crystal and Robbinsdale. The cities are expected to consider municipal consent later this year.

In Robbinsdale, SLR81 has emerged in opposition to the MET Council’s project. There’s a QR code on the signs linking people to slr81.org.

Per the website, SLR81 believes the light rail “is not a common-sense solution for the transit needs, now or in the future, for the communities serviced by CR 81.

“It is also our opinion that the negative impact of the Blue Line Extension, as currently planned, far exceeds its value - especially when one considers the cost-effective, safe, efficient, scalable, and green options that have proven effective in many other communities.”

Many SLR81 activists would prefer an electric bus system.

A petition against the project as it stands has gathered about 570 signatures.

Steven Carlyle, owner of Wicked Wort Brewing Company and Bean There Coffee Shoppe, told the Sun Post he did not want the light rail to go down CR81. For Carlyle, the project seems very expensive, unnecessary and “irresponsible.” He worries the train will harm neighboring businesses.

“Ridership is down. People are working from home and that’s not gonna change anytime soon,” Carlyle said.

The MET Council predicts the Blue Line extension will add between 11,500 and 13,000 daily riders.

A smaller system with electric busses seems more logical, from Carlyle’s perspective.

“In reality, the light rail would help my business,” Carlyle said. “Because the bus hub — [which] is directly behind my business — would go away. And it’d be advantageous for us for parking.”

However, the train might change the rest of Robbinsdale, and Carlyle doesn’t believe it’s needed.

The MET Council has set aside some funding for people who might suffer financial losses as a result of the Blue Line extension. Go to yourblueline.org/anti-displacement to learn more. Carlyle was skeptical of what the stimulus money for businesses would look like.

Carlyle said he also supported the original Blue Line extension down the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad.

“If you were going to do it, that would’ve been the way to do it,” Carlyle said. “Because it’s already there, the right-of-way’s already there and it made sense.”

However, the MET council was unable to reach an agreement with BNSF, so the new route goes down CR 81.

Gordy Lindenfelser, owner of Hackenmueller’s Meat Market, also spoke to the Sun Post. Lindenfelser said he did not support the old alignment along the BNSF railroad or the current alignment along CR81.

“In my opinion, if they wanna do something, and spend that much money on the light rail, why don’t they improve the roads and put a bus system in?” Lindenfelser said.

Lindenfelser believes a train would bring crime to the area.

“We don’t need the riffraff,” he said.

Lindenfelser blames the existing bus for at least one instance of attempted burglary.

“I had one person come in the back room and stole a box of meat,” Lindenfelser said. “Thank God we caught him. Just came over here, walked in the cooler, took a box. Luckily one of the employees had seen him and we got it back. But the police don’t need that kind of headache. They’ve got enough things to do.”

Lindenfelser also worries it would disrupt the downtown. Construction and the dramatic change could make it difficult for people to approach the small businesses.

“You’re gonna have all this construction. It’s gonna be hard to get around,” Lindenfelser said.

Lindenfelser also wondered if the stimulus promised from anti-displacement funds would be enough for smaller businesses to stay afloat.

Both Lindenfelser and Carlyle mentioned the Southwest Light Rail or Green Line project. The METRO train extension to Eden Prairie has suffered delays and budget issues. Will the Blue Line extension from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park face a similar fate?

“The MET council shouldn’t have the right to shove it down our throats, or the government, whatever,” Lindenfelser said. “And everybody’s against it and I don’t know why they don’t listen to the people.”

“It’s not helping anybody by doing it,” Carlyle said. “Especially the people in Minneapolis, they’re really taking a beating with it. I think they just need to stop and look, right? Stop what you’re doing. Think about what you’re doing.”

The next meeting of the SLR81 will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 26 Wicked Wort.