Two years before the planned start of major construction of the Blue Line light-rail extension, businesses in Brooklyn Park are long accustomed to hearing, “the Blue Line is coming.” But now that the project’s design is being finalized, some residents are amping up concerns about the impact the line might have on surrounding communities.
The $3.2 billion, 12-stop extension would connect Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park, with several stops in both of those cities and others in Robbinsdale and Crystal. Construction will begin in 2027, with an expected opening in 2030. The projected cost, which would be among the highest ever for a Minnesota public works project, has made it controversial, even as proponents say it could be an economic boon to an underserved area.
Kevin Stammer, manager at Cajun Deli, which is in the Parksquare Shopping Center near the intersection of West Broadway and Brooklyn Boulevard, said he received a folder of information on the project from the city of Brooklyn Park months ago showing that the line will run along West Broadway, with a station at its intersection with Brooklyn Boulevard…