The Black, Indigenous, immigrant and people of color communities living along the Blue Line Light Rail Extension deserve public and private investment — on our own terms. Working with community, the Blue Line Coalition has secured big wins that will help ensure this billion-dollar investment brings big benefits for our people.
For too long, residents of North Minneapolis and the northwest suburbs have been ignored or harmed by transportation projects. Olson Memorial Highway destroyed a thriving Black business district, leaving an unsafe scar that divides our community to this day. Past light rail projects have spiked housing costs and pushed out Black, Indigenous, immigrant and people of color (BIPOC) businesses.
That’s why the Blue Line Extension must be different from past transit projects. We need a transformative process that centers community voices and puts people first.
When we come together across race and place, have the power to make change. Because of our organizing, project leaders have made anti-displacement a top priority and worked with community to identify key policy and funding recommendations to make sure BIPOC residents and businesses along the corridor are able to stay, grow and thrive. Because of our advocacy, state lawmakers established a Community Prosperity Fund with $10 million to protect our people and businesses.
This year is a critical moment for project leaders to not just listen but act on the leadership our communities have provided — and put policies and funding in place to earn community consent to begin construction.
bluelinecoalition.org 