Robbinsdale survey results: 77% are against current Blue Line project

The city of Robbinsdale has been collecting feedback about the Blue Line extension project. In August, a survey went out to ask denizens how they felt about the project. In the survey, the results were mostly negative as 56 people said they supported the Blue Line extension, 232 said they did not and 15 were undecided.

"If you can't follow the current railroad tracks, don't do it. Period," Marty Hanson wrote.

Sara Quinn said she was considering selling her home because of various concerns about safety, traffic congestion, cost of the infrastructure and concerns about dividing the city in half.

"The route will split Robbinsdale in half just like the I-94 project that destroyed the Rondo neighborhood in Saint Paul," Randall Kreisel wrote.

Others wrote about cost, the impact on public safety, the lengthy construction period's impact on small businesses and noise pollution. A number of comments said they were not opposed to public transit broadly, but disapproved of this current plan to put a train down County Road 81.

But not everyone is against the plan. Chris Hagge wrote that the light rail is "far more forward-looking than any other options, including [bus rapid transit], which would not likely run as far as the light rail will." Hagge added that people could get to St. Paul, the airport and "many other places that are much more of a hassle to drive to currently."

Rebecca Wonder wrote "I am thrilled to have a more environmentally friendly and relatively fast commute to work! I absolutely will use the light rail to get to work and it'll be fantastic to incorporate a bit of exercise with the bike ride or walk to the station. Right now, the bus lines add too much time to my commute to be feasible, but my office has a blue line station right outside so I'll be able to get there quickly."

There was an open house at Elim Lutheran Church where people could speak directly to the City Council and staff, look at maps, ask questions and share concerns.

During a public hearing on Sept. 3, folks also had a chance to speak formally to the City Council. This meeting and others can be streamed online at robbinsdalemn.com.

Project developers have reached out to the city to ask for "municipal consent" to move forward with the project. There are three possible responses:

(1) No action. For Met Council, silence is the same as approval of the project design.

(2) Approve the project design.

(3) Disapprove and offer specific design amendments required to gain approval.

City staff is drafting a resolution to disapprove with a list of amendments.

The City Council is expected to vote on municipal consent at the meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at City Hall, 4100 Lakeview Avenue North, Robbinsdale.