Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Metro Transit outlines 2026 'Renew the Blue' shutdowns: buses to replace Blue Line from June 29–Aug. 19
Summary
Metro Transit presented the 2026 Renew the Blue multi‑year rail maintenance plan and a 52‑day full‑line bus replacement from June 29 to August 19, plus two weekend shutdowns in May; staff described construction scope, coordination with the airport, ADA improvements, adjusted bus travel times and expanded outreach.
Metro Transit staff briefed the Metropolitan Council on March 25 about the 2026 phase of Renew the Blue, a multi‑year rail capital maintenance program for the Blue Line.
Brian Funk, Metro Transit chief operating officer, and project staff described the work and the outreach program that will accompany it. Engineering staff said the 2026 program includes two partial‑line weekend shutdowns (May 9–10 and May 30–31) and a full‑line construction and bus‑replacement period running June 29 through August 19 (52 days). During the 52‑day closure, staff said buses will replace light rail service on the Blue Line between Target Field and Mall of America and rail will continue to operate on segments where permitted; some Green Line movements will be restricted near the I‑35W interchange during portions of the work.
Engineering and…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
