Henipin County commissioner urges Met Council to press for Blue Line Extension funding

Jeffrey Lundy, Henipin County commissioner for District 1, urged the Metropolitan Council on June 24 to press the federal government for funding to advance the Blue Line Extension, saying the project would expand the tax base and improve transit access for historically underinvested communities.

Lundy told the council he has spent decades working on the extension and described light rail as the ‘‘single best opportunity’’ for communities such as Brooklyn Park, Crystal and Robbinsdale to grow their tax base and fund public services. He cited Met Council research he said shows ‘‘each acre along the light rail line built in Metro so far generates 27 more times property tax than the average acre does.’’ He said Henipin County seeks federal support and that ‘‘if we get $750 million from the federal government, that’s a $3 billion investment into your transit system.’’

Mark Hulver, public works director for the City of Brooklyn Park, spoke after Lundy on behalf of the mayor (who emailed regrets). Hulver emphasized that Brooklyn Park ‘‘want[s] this project now’’ and warned that ‘‘another delay’’ would jeopardize infrastructure, economic development and readiness among local landowners.

Metropolitan Council Chair Robin Hutson thanked the speakers, said the Council intends to pursue the full funding grant agreement (FFGA) ‘‘at the earliest time that we can,’’ and confirmed staff will circulate the mayor’s email to members. The chair and regional staff reiterated the Council’s continued commitment to the line extension while acknowledging remaining challenges.

Why it matters: The comments put elected county leadership and a major regional city on record urging Council action and federal advocacy to bridge the project’s funding gap. The speakers framed the extension as an equity and economic-development investment for working-class and higher-need neighborhoods.

What’s next: Council members and staff said they will continue coordinating on funding strategy and FFGA timing; no new formal action on the Blue Line Extension was taken during the meeting.