Frey says city needs promises before blessing Blue Line
Mayor Jacob Frey told a Blue Line advisory committee Thursday that details addressing displacement need to be in place before approving a Blue Line light rail extension route. Photo by David Pierini
By David Pierini, Editor
Blue Line project managers will continue to design a light rail extension route that could run through North Minneapolis after two separate voting groups this week gave the OK to proceed.
The votes only green-light the next step in planning. Not a single line of track can be laid until all the cities along the 13-mile corridor vote on whether to accept the route.
And municipal consent is far from guaranteed.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and City Councilman Jeremiah Ellison, both with seats on the Blue Line Extension Corridor Management Committee, said Thursday that detailed plans and money for impacted residents and businesses would need to be spelled out if the project was to ever get the city’s blessing.
“The anti-displacement work is going to be critical for us ultimately to say yes,” said Frey, who voted to let the project move to the next phase. “The alignments, the proposals for the stops are intentionally broad and we’re going to need to get some promises and guarantees before we ultimately grant consent.”
Project officials say the next design phase should answer all the important questions, costs, projected ridership, safety and how to make whole those displaced by construction.
The Metropolitan Council on Wednesday voted 12-3 to approve $75 million for the next step. Commissioners Deb Barber questioned the county’s ability to finance two big projects, including a Green Line extension plagued by cost overruns. Commissioner Wendy Wulf, who voted no, said bus rapid transit would be cheaper and would improve mobility for residents currently underserved by the current bus schedule and routes.
Asked whether the city of Minneapolis should push for bus rapid transit, Frey told North News, “I’m not taking anything off the table.”
Kristel Porter, center, and Reve Chamblis of the Blue Line Extension Corridor Management Committee engaged in a lively chat following Thursday’s meeting. Photo by David Pierini
Project planners over the summer released a proposed route that connects Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Robbinsdale and North Minneapolis to downtown. From Target Field station, a northbound train would travel along North 7th Street, then 10th Avenue and turn west onto Washington Avenue. Trains would crossover I-94 on a new bridge that would extend 21st Avenue. Trains would then merge onto West Broadway Avenue at James.
While the route has changed several times based on feedback from residents, a number of vocal Northsiders continue to oppose light rail. They fear they could be priced out of their homes by gentrifying spin0ff development and that property owners won’t be compensated enough if they have to start over elsewhere.
“I just drove down University Avenue (Green Line) yesterday and counted 11 boarded-up buildings,” said Kristen Porter, executive director of the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition. “So if it’s so great, then why isn’t it working where (light rail) happened already?”
Project planners hope to provide the details necessary to begin the municipal consent process sometime next summer.