ROBBINSDALE, Minn. — Several city councils are voting on a light rail project that connects Minneapolis to parts of the north metro, including Crystal and Robbinsdale.
The vote isn't about whether to stop the Blue Line Extension light rail project, but whether councilors would approve parts of its proposed design plan.
Crystal City Manager Adam Bell says the council agreed to delay the vote to October 1.
In Robbinsdale, the council also voted to approve tabling the topic and create a special work session on October 1 to continue discussions.
Some residents in Robbinsdale, who oppose the project, say the plans don't address public safety and displaces residents and businesses.
"Noise, for one thing," said Mona Grellson. She lives on Crystal Lake with her brother, Steve, and says a station would be built across the street from the home they've shared for 20 years.
The 13 mile-long project has been in planning stages for 10 years. It would connect Minneapolis to north Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park with about a dozen stops in between.
"I don’t think we would move at this point, but I do know people that will and I know some people that already have," said Mona.
The four cities can vote to accept the proposals and if they don't, must include specific amendments. If one or more cities disapprove, the agency in charge, The Metropolitan Council, will conduct further studies and hold more public hearings and can amend the plans. Ultimately, though, they aren't required to do that.
The Robbinsdale City Council listed several concerns in a letter to the Met Council that includes public safety and a lack of enforcement. Met Council is projecting 15,000 rides every day on the route. The councilors are also concerned about the size of a nearby park and ride.
"We can still take those changes and try and find a solution that meets what's needed to run an effective transit line, but also what the city is asking us to change," said Nick Thompson, who leads Metro Transit's Capital Program development.
He says the Blue Line is the state's largest project and will people to the airport, Mall of America and health care.
"Those need faster service like light rail that can carry more people because the demand is higher," said Thompson.
The city councils have until October 10th to make any decisions on the design and then the Met Council has another 60 days to decide what changes it might make. The Blue Line is expected to be up and running by 2030.