Transportation committee re-refers HF 14 after heated debate over Blue Line spending pause

The Minnesota House Transportation Committee voted 8–7 to re-refer House File 14 — a bill that would pause Metropolitan Council spending on construction of the Blue Line Extension until the Southwest Light Rail is in revenue service — after more than an hour of testimony from elected officials, transit advocates and community groups.

Representative Lisa Robbins, sponsor of HF 14, told the committee the pause is intended to “help save taxpayers money” by delaying Blue Line construction until Southwest Light Rail is complete so the state can reassess whether the Blue Line still makes sense. Robbins cited large cost increases on recent projects, saying Southwest Light Rail went from an original estimate of $1.25 billion to a 2025 projection of $2.9 billion and that the Blue Line projection has risen from about $999 million to roughly $3.2 billion.

The bill would prohibit the Metropolitan Council from expending funds on capital construction of the Blue Line Extension until the Southwest line is operational. Opponents and proponents offered sharply contrasting views at the hearing.

Why it matters

HF 14 would restrict how the regional transit agency may use funds on a multi‑billion-dollar light‑rail extension that Hennepin County and a set of municipalities have been planning. Supporters said the statewide fiscal picture and recent rail cost overruns justify a pause and a comparison with bus rapid transit (BRT) alternatives. Opponents warned that a pause would delay the project further, risk losing federal dollars and harm communities that county and city leaders say have supported the extension.

What supporters said

Representative Lisa Robbins, sponsor, described the bill as “a way we can save money for taxpayers” and urged a halt until Southwest Light Rail is operating so the…