METRO Blue Line Extension (Bottineau LRT)

Funded

13.4-mile extension of the METRO Blue Line light rail from Target Field Station through North Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, and Crystal to Brooklyn Park, largely following County Road 81 (Bottineau Boulevard).

Alignment Map

Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Alignment is approximate.

Alignment

The METRO Blue Line Extension (long known as the Bottineau LRT project) would extend the existing Blue Line light rail approximately 13.4 miles northwest from Target Field Station in downtown Minneapolis through North Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, and Crystal to Brooklyn Park, adding 11 new stations. The alignment largely follows County Road 81 (Bottineau Boulevard) after an earlier route running alongside BNSF freight tracks was scrapped due to railroad opposition.

The project has an official budget of $3.58 billion. Design work reached 90% completion in May 2026, with 100% design targeted for fall 2026 and a Full Funding Grant Agreement application to the FTA expected the same year; construction is anticipated to begin in 2027.

Updates

2026-05 — 90% design complete

The project reached the 90% design milestone, with the Metropolitan Council targeting 100% design by fall 2026.

2025-08 — FTA signs Administrative Record of Decision

The FTA’s signature on the AROD (August 11, 2025) completed environmental review for the project.

References