The Metropolitan Council opened a public hearing Aug. 13 on a draft amendment to the region's 2050 Transportation Policy Plan to add the Metro Gold Line Extension and heard public criticism of rail project planning and operations.

The hearing, convened and chaired by Council Vice Chair Reva Chambliss, gave individuals three minutes to speak and organizations five minutes. The amendment under consideration would add the Metro Gold Line Extension, described in the staff notice as a project to extend the Gold Line from downtown St. Paul to downtown Minneapolis generally along Interstate 94. The council said written comments are accepted via public@metc.state.mn.us or by mail to 390 Robert Street North, Saint Paul; a recorded public comment line was also provided.

Public commenters raised both operational failures and strategic objections to rail expansion. Andrew Boardman, representing Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, said Metro Transit had made repeated operational errors and urged the council to stop outsourcing vehicle work and to better plan extensions. "We got the first train back finally years overdue and our mechanics here have to redo all of that work. All at the expense of the taxpayers," Boardman said, citing work sent out of state for repairs and urging the council to use local union labor where possible.

Matt Brunz, who identified himself as a long-term Minneapolis resident, urged the council not to include a Blue Line Extension in the 2050 plan and argued the plan should prioritize flexible, lower-cost options. "The extension's projected cost of 3,200,000,000 and growing and ridership estimates remain uncertain," Brunz said, and suggested bus rapid transit and other alternatives as more adaptable, lower-cost options. Brunz also cited past projects he described as over budget or delayed, including the Southwest LRT and the North Star Commuter Rail.

Council members and staff noted at the hearing that a letter of support for the Blue Line Extension from a coalition of labor organizations had been received and would be circulated to council members after the meeting. The council closed the hearing after the scheduled speakers and noted staff would prepare a summary of public comments and a revised amendment for further consideration.

The hearing was procedural: it provided a public record of comments and did not include a vote to add or remove projects. Staff told the council the comment period and the staff summary will inform any future amendments and decisions about the 2050 plan.

Plans in the 2050 Transportation Policy Plan and the imagine 2050 development guide guide regional investment decisions; this hearing focused on whether the Metro Gold Line Extension should be included in the plan and gathered public input about cost, equity, displacement risk, alternatives and operational performance.

Less-critical details: the council livestreamed the hearing and accepted written comments following the meeting; individuals were given three minutes and organizations five minutes to speak under the council's public hearing rules.