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Brooklyn Park authorizes comment on METRO Blue Line SDEIS, urges planning for east–west connections
Summary
The Council authorized a city comment letter on the METRO Blue Line Extension Supplemental DEIS and discussed east‑west bus connections, pedestrian access to proposed stops and sidewalk links near NHCC; Metropolitan Council Commissioner Reva Chambliss described additional funding and the Network Next planning process.
The Brooklyn Park City Council unanimously authorized staff to submit a comment letter on the METRO Blue Line Extension Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement at its July 29 meeting.
Planning Director Paul Mogush outlined the SDEIS timeline and the city’s draft comments. Council members, led by Xp Lee and Boyd Morson, emphasized a need for improved east–west bus connections and safer pedestrian links to proposed stations; Lee asked staff to explore sidewalk connections near Candlewood and the NHCC grassy area to improve station access. Council Member Morson said residents need more immediate east–west options and cautioned that light‑rail benefits would not arrive until the 2030 timeline.
Metropolitan Council Commissioner Reva Chambliss, Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee, told the Council that recent legislation increased transportation funding and that the Met Council’s Network Next process is assessing a range of service options — not solely rail — to respond to changing ridership and federal funding requirements. "We had additional funding for transportation now that the ridership had improved," Chambliss said, and she invited further local input on east–west ideas.
The Council voted unanimously to authorize submission of the letter. Council members asked staff to continue coordination with county partners and to pursue pedestrian and bus access improvements where feasible.
