Metro Transit
Metro Transit’s Blue Line Extension LRT project has achieved a critical milestone with federal environmental approval, “clearing the way for final design and construction while setting a new standard for supporting communities and businesses impacted by construction,” the Minnesota Metropolitan Council announced Aug. 13.
The FTA signed the Amended Record of Decision for the Blue Line Extension’s Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS), “concluding years of comprehensive environmental review and community engagement.”
This federal action also allows for the project, which is a proposed 13.4-mile light rail line that will connect downtown Minneapolis to the communities of North Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park, to include groundbreaking measures to support residents and businesses before, during, and after construction of the line:
- $5 Million Business Support Program: Construction-impacted businesses will be eligible for up to $30,000 each in rent assistance, helping maintain economic stability during the multi-year construction period.
- $5 Million Community Investment Fund: This program will provide funding to community-serving organizations for things like rent and housing cost assistance, specifically designed to help existing residents remain in their neighborhoods.
“This is the first time this type of support for residents and businesses impacted by construction has been included in a major project in Minnesota,” said Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando. “The Blue Line Extension will connect thousands of people to new opportunities to work, go to school, and access healthcare. It is a generational investment in communities where many people rely on transit to get where they need to go every day.”
“Light rail projects, more than any other mode of transit, generate significant economic and community investment. This project will unlock long-overdue investment in some of our state’s most vibrant communities. The strategies included in this project’s environmental documents will help make sure this investment benefits the people there today and the generations that will follow,” Fernando added.
Additionally, the environmental documents outline strategies to address other environmental, economic, and social impacts and opportunities of the Blue Line Extension, including things like noise and vibration, parking, property impacts, and more.
“This milestone represents a significant investment in our region’s future,” said Metropolitan Council Chair Charlie Zelle. “It brings us closer to advancing our regional transit vision to create jobs, improve mobility, and strengthen communities.”
A public engagement process will launch this fall to inform the development and design of these community support programs, “ensuring maximum benefit for residents and businesses once a Full Funding Grant Agreement is awarded,” the Council said.
Santa Clara VTA
“In a decisive move to support public transportation across the Bay Area,” the Santa Clara VTA Board of Directors voted unanimously to join California Senate Bill 63 (Weiner/Arreguin). This landmark funding measure, the agency says, “is poised to preserve and enhance transit service throughout the region.”
By participating in SB 63, VTA joins a coalition of Bay Area counties—Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco and San Mateo—committed to preventing service cuts. The measure is expected to provide $264 million annually to VTA to support local transit improvements, positioning Santa Clara County to receive funding for critical needs such as VTA’s Visionary Network—an ambitious plan to improve frequency, reliability and connectivity.
“SB 63 represents a transformative opportunity to invest in the future of public transit,” said Carolyn Gonot, VTA General Manager/CEO. “With this measure, we can deliver faster, more reliable service and ensure equitable access for all riders across Santa Clara County.”
“The board’s vote affirms VTA’s regional leadership role and will allow Bay Area residents to not just protect but transform vital public transit services,” added Sergio Lopez, VTA Board Chair. “I am grateful to all who invested countless hours in putting in the hard work to improve this measure and ensure a fair deal for Santa Clara County, while strengthening our regional network.”
According to the agency, SB 63 would create a special district across five counties that would allow this regional funding measure to be placed on the November 2026 ballot. “It would include transformational regional investments such as enhancing speed and reliability, supporting cross-county paratransit, streamlining fare programs, and unifying wayfinding across systems. VTA’s endorsement underscores its leadership in shaping a more integrated, equitable, and sustainable transit future.”
This board decision, the agency says, “follows voter engagement research and a thorough evaluation of the bill’s alignment with VTA’s strategic priorities. VTA’s action ensures Santa Clara County has a seat at the table in shaping the future of Bay Area mobility.”
In related news, the VTA Board discussed potentially switching from a single-bore tunnel to a twin-bore tunnel “in an effort to make the best financial decisions for the Silicon Valley BART Expansion project,” according to a KGO news report.
According to the report, a new study (download below) released this week has concluded that a single-bore tunnel is the “smarter, faster, and more community-friendly way” to complete the final phase of the project.
The findings, VTA says, “show that this design is more cost-effective, quicker to build, already approved, and far less disruptive to downtown San José and its business community. It keeps streets open, supports the local economy during construction, and brings BART to Santa Clara County sooner.”
After years of technical analysis, public input, and federal review, the VTA says it continues to advance the single-bore tunnel as the preferred design for extending BART through downtown San José to Santa Clara. Compared to a twin-bore tunnel, the single-bore option “offers clear advantages and is significantly less expensive and less risky,” the agency noted.
