The Blue Line Regional DREAM Summit held on October 4, 2025, at the University of Minnesota’s Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) drew an energized crowd of more than 100 participants, bringing together residents, civic leaders and transit officials to discuss how the METRO Blue Line Extension can become more than just a transit project — a catalyst for community transformation.
Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando opened the day by highlighting the project’s broad potential to fuel economic vitality across the region, emphasizing that the Blue Line Extension represents an investment in people and places — a chance to create jobs, foster business growth and strengthen the regional economy while ensuring that benefits reach every community along the corridor. Metropolitan Council Vice Chair Reva Chamblis commended the Summit as an example of authentic community engagement, emphasizing the importance of bringing diverse voices to the table.
The event was hosted in partnership with the DREAM Team, Metropolitan Council, and Hennepin County. The DREAM (Developing Regional Equity through Action and Mobilization) Team is a coalition of community leaders, advocates and residents working to ensure the Blue Line Extension reflects the community’s priorities, and Asian Media Access is part of it.
“The Blue Line Extension project is about more than building transit. It’s a long-term investment in mobility, access and prosperity,” said Summit hosts. “The Regional Summit is designed to connect residents with information, resources and leaders shaping this work, while creating space for community priorities to guide the project’s impact.”
The 13.4-mile extension will connect Target Field in downtown Minneapolis to North Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park, adding 12 new stations. This expansion promises to transform mobility options for communities historically underserved by transit infrastructure, with construction expected to begin in 2026-2027 and opening anticipated for 2030.
The summit represented a significant shift toward authentic community engagement in major infrastructure planning. Rather than presenting a completed plan to residents, the gathering created meaningful space for community voices to shape the project’s development and ensure equitable outcomes. Discussion focused on maximizing economic opportunity, preserving cultural assets, preventing displacement, and ensuring the extension serves as a tool for community empowerment rather than gentrification.
The October 4th summit built on years of community engagement, including municipal consent processes and public hearings since 2020, demonstrating commitment to centering resident priorities in one of the Twin Cities’ most significant transit investments.
