Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Roads - Rails - Sidewalks - Bikeways
thespeedmccool
Rice Park
Posts: 448
Joined: January 29th, 2021, 1:02 pm

Re: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Post by thespeedmccool »

One caveat: when Republicans last had a trifecta and a chance to cut transit funding, they had a lot more suburban and urban members. They're almost 100% rural now, so very few of their constituents will care if transit funding gets cut.

I tend to agree that transit funding is probably safe, but I wouldn't underestimate how extreme this new trifecta could be either.
BikesOnFilm
Wells Fargo Center
Posts: 1078
Joined: February 20th, 2015, 12:38 pm

Re: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Post by BikesOnFilm »

That might matter less than you think. Rural constituents are more likely to be defensive of Amtrak, and the Met Council has been proud of pointing out that the Southwest Light Rail hired contractors from almost every one of Minnesota's counties.

And there's also the vast difference between how legislators behave behind closed doors making sausage and how they behave when they're fishing for airtime on CSPAN and Fox News.
uptownbro
Rice Park
Posts: 457
Joined: February 10th, 2020, 11:00 pm

Re: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Post by uptownbro »

Assuming this stays on the current timeline im not worried about it. If it gets delayed I would be more worried. Musk and co are a blue ribbon committee that congress and Trump will use for PR and likely ignore when real legislation is made. They also will have the weakest house majority in a very long time. All it will take is a small number of house member from PA or NY to tank any massive cuts.
The bigger issue will be any major project after this.
Bakken2016
Wells Fargo Center
Posts: 1073
Joined: September 20th, 2017, 12:40 pm
Location: North Loop

Re: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Post by Bakken2016 »

https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation ... ation.aspx

Metro Transit is looking at doing early construction related to the Blue Line Extension at Target Field Station in 2026 to prevent impacts to revenue operations of the Green Line Extension.
BigIdeasGuy
Rice Park
Posts: 430
Joined: March 27th, 2013, 8:22 am

Re: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Post by BigIdeasGuy »

I'm usually the guy who rips public bodies for not thinking and planning 3 steps ahead on stuff like this so when they do it plan and design ahead to prevent future problems I will give them the credit they deserve.

Getting this done would be a great move by the Council I hope they get it done in time
COLSLAW5
Landmark Center
Posts: 230
Joined: April 11th, 2018, 1:20 pm
Has thanked: 2 times

Re: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Post by COLSLAW5 »

I have been watching the construction on this bridge and screaming to myself that they should just be doing all the work for blue line so its good to see someone else thinking ahead
COLSLAW5
Landmark Center
Posts: 230
Joined: April 11th, 2018, 1:20 pm
Has thanked: 2 times

Re: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Post by COLSLAW5 »

Also just noticed that they are now showing a two way bike lane on 6th ave into the north loop that was not there in municipal consent plans
twincitizen
Moderator
Posts: 6191
Joined: May 31st, 2012, 7:27 pm
Location: Standish-Ericsson

Re: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Post by twincitizen »

COLSLAW5 wrote: February 4th, 2025, 2:02 pm I have been watching the construction on this bridge and screaming to myself that they should just be doing all the work for blue line so its good to see someone else thinking ahead
Yeah I would think they could have added this work onto the change orders for Southwest, given how large the contingency budgets are for these projects. It would seem germane to the project since it will prevent disruptions for southwest after it opens.
Bakken2016
Wells Fargo Center
Posts: 1073
Joined: September 20th, 2017, 12:40 pm
Location: North Loop

Re: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Post by Bakken2016 »

twincitizen wrote: February 5th, 2025, 9:20 am
COLSLAW5 wrote: February 4th, 2025, 2:02 pm I have been watching the construction on this bridge and screaming to myself that they should just be doing all the work for blue line so its good to see someone else thinking ahead
Yeah I would think they could have added this work onto the change orders for Southwest, given how large the contingency budgets are for these projects. It would seem germane to the project since it will prevent disruptions for southwest after it opens.
The Powerpoint says they are looking into change orders for SWLRT as an option.
Post Reply