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Supporters of HF14 urge moratorium on Blue Line light rail, push for bus rapid transit
Summary
At a public forum hosted by Rep. Kristen Robbins, residents, business owners and transit experts urged support for House File 14, a proposal to pause spending on the Blue Line Extension and consider bus rapid transit (BRT) instead. Speakers cited business displacement, construction disruption and cost overruns on past projects.
Representative Kristen Robbins, who represents District 37A, introduced supporters of House File 14 (HF14) and said the bill "would put a moratorium on the blue line light rail until the Southwest light rail is done." Robbins said constituents along the Blue Line corridor asked for a pause so communities could push for bus rapid transit instead.
At the event, residents and business owners from Robbinsdale, North Minneapolis, Crystal and Jordan described what they said would be harmful impacts from light-rail construction. "I fully urge our state representatives to vote yes on HF14 which will pause construction on the blue line extension," said Eric Hillman, who identified himself as a Robbinsville resident and representative of StopLight Rail 81.
Speakers described three recurring concerns: displacement or closure of long-standing local businesses during prolonged construction, project cost overruns and the potential for increased crime or public-safety burdens near stations. Mark Wellna, who identified…
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