RELEASE: Blue Line Extension Rail Cost Skyrockets to $3.58 Billion, Koznick Urges to Scrap LRT for Bus Alternatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News Release 

Blue Line Extension Rail Cost Skyrockets to $3.58 Billion,

 Koznick Urges to Scrap LRT for Bus Alternatives    

**BLE Budget Balloons by $336 Million to $3.58 Billion**

St. Paul, MN — A recent budget update for the Blue Line Light Rail Extension validates the position held by House Transportation Chair Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville) that building this light rail project is a waste of taxpayer dollars and other forms of transit are more appropriate.

The revised budget is $336 million higher than the previous project budget of $3.2 billion that was released in early 2024 when the project design was 30% complete.

Koznick gave the following statement regarding the cost increase:

"I am not at all surprised to see that the cost of the Blue Line Extension project is continuing to skyrocket out of control. It started at $1.5 billion. Out-of-control costs have been the case with previous light rail projects. For example, the Green Line Extension out to Eden Prairie went severely over budget and is not even fully operational today.  

We need to scrap this next boondoggle Blue Line Extension project now, before more tax dollars are wasted! At a time of increased property taxes, to pursue the Blue Line Train is an abuse of taxpayers."

The Blue Line Extension is not wanted by many people living in North Minneapolis and by residents of each city throughout the route. Northside community members have expressed legitimate concerns that it will bifurcate the historically Black business district on West Broadway and impede foot traffic. It is also not wanted by many Hennepin County taxpayers, who are already struggling to keep up with exorbitant property tax increases and do not want to bear the financial burden of another light rail project.

Koznick, along with an active group of community members living along the corridor who oppose the train, believes the proposed Blue Line Extension corridor will be better served by an arterial bus rapid transit (ABRT) system.

Koznick further stated, "The Blue Line Extension would be the largest public project in state history. This increasing budget creates a huge funding gap that must be addressed before Hennepin County or the Met Council can apply for federal grants. Hennepin County needs to decide if this is the best use of transit funds. We also look forward to the upcoming Blue Line Corridor Alternative Analysis Study to see the difference in capital and maintenance costs and ridership among different transit modes. This will give policymakers and the public more data to determine the best transit options."

The Metropolitan Council is expected to release the BLE Alternative Analysis Study this coming Monday, June 15, 2026. Rep. Koznick plans to be available for comment on Tuesday, after the study comes out.

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/RepJonKoznick

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