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Advancing equity along the Blue Line Extension

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The Blue Line Extension will run from downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park, connecting some of our region’s most diverse communities and transit reliant residents to jobs, education, and opportunities.

After over a century of disinvestment, racial covenants, and redlining, we have a duty to ensure that existing residents, small businesses, and cultural institutions are both engaged in and able to benefit from the increased public and private development and investment likely to occur in neighborhoods along the Blue Line Extension route..

By advancing robust anti-displacement and community wealth building strategies alongside the light rail project, we aim to set a national standard for how projects of this scale can leverage existing community assets to maximize community and economic benefits to existing residents, businesses and communities.

Below is information about some of the challenges these communities currently face and opportunities for the Blue Line Extension to reduce disparities, advance equity, and improve people’s lives.



The Blue Line Extension will run from downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park, connecting some of our region’s most diverse communities and transit reliant residents to jobs, education, and opportunities.

After over a century of disinvestment, racial covenants, and redlining, we have a duty to ensure that existing residents, small businesses, and cultural institutions are both engaged in and able to benefit from the increased public and private development and investment likely to occur in neighborhoods along the Blue Line Extension route..

By advancing robust anti-displacement and community wealth building strategies alongside the light rail project, we aim to set a national standard for how projects of this scale can leverage existing community assets to maximize community and economic benefits to existing residents, businesses and communities.

Below is information about some of the challenges these communities currently face and opportunities for the Blue Line Extension to reduce disparities, advance equity, and improve people’s lives.



  • Serve communities of color and people who rely on transit

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    Light rail will connect people to new opportunities and destinations in areas with:

    • majority people of color
    • high rates of people who use transit to meet everyday needs

    Strategy: Partnering with cultural and community organizations to engage diverse stakeholders in planning and decision-making


  • Connect people to jobs and education

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    Linking people more efficiently to educational and employment opportunities will reduce commute times,
    increase access to goods and services, and unlock potential in a corridor with:

    • high rates of people over 25 without a high school degree
    • some of the lowest households incomes in the region

    Strategy: Work closely with educational institutions and employers to ensure students and workers are served and connected



  • Improve public health and reduce pollution

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    Connecting people to quality health care and providing clean active transportation choices will serve as a lifeline for well being in a corridor where residents:

    • are more likely to experience premature death
    • are more likely to be hospitalized for COPD

    Strategies: Direct connection with North Memorial hospital; incorporate active transportation investments in station area planning; work with health institutions to best serve and connect patients and workers; advance clean transportation options to support climate action goals


  • Increase access to affordable housing

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    Ensuring access to affordable housing will create strong foundations on which residents can build stable lives in areas with:

    • high rates of housing cost burden
    • a history of systemic redlining and racist covenants

    Strategies: Inclusive zoning ordinances in station areas; guide affordable housing development and preservation; expand homeownership and home rehab programs; advance robust anti-displacement and renter protection strategies

  • Help residents and communities build wealth in place

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    Investing in community-driven visions for economic development in the corridor will grow prosperity in areas with:

    • low household incomes
    • low home values

    Strategies: Small business support and technical assistance; actionable anti-displacement strategies; community and economic development planning; strong project local workforce and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) benchmarks


Page last updated: 06 Apr 2023, 10:27 AM