2026 Season Opener: Project Updates, Community Impact, and Future Opportunities

Join us in this episode as we kick off the 2026 season with a deep dive into the Blue Line Extension project, community engagement efforts, safety improvements, and economic development opportunities. Whether you're a local resident, community advocate, or transit enthusiast, this episode provides essential updates and insights for shaping the future of transit in our region.

Main Topics Covered:

• Overview of the Blue Line Extension project's current status and upcoming milestones
• Community engagement and safety measures implemented on the project
• Impact on North Minneapolis, Broadway, and upcoming station expansions
• Legislative updates and community concerns addressed
• Economic development and job creation along the transit corridor
• Affordability, accessibility, and the importance of multimodal transit options
• Future community engagement opportunities and resources for staying informed

Resources & Links:

• Blue Line Extension Project Website
• Public Safety and Security Action Plan

This episode sets the stage for an exciting year of progress, community involvement, and transformation. Stay tuned as we continue to share updates, stories, and opportunities to be part of this historic project!

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:03

Welcome back.

SPEAKER_03 0:09

We're hanging out. How are you feeling, Rich?

SPEAKER_00 0:16

Great. It's it's uh my birthday just happened.

SPEAKER_04 0:19

So young enough to be run American stuff, right?

SPEAKER_02 0:24

Exactly. Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 0:26

Well, you're here with your guys. Um, Kyle, Rich, Brett, we're back for another season. Um, so much has gone on with the project, and we're just blessed to be able to be in one place to be able to do this project this time around. You'll see some changes on within the project. Um, and we're gonna be bringing in guests to a studio as opposed to uh trying to do the remote activity uh for the most part. We have a dynamic list being set up right now, but we want to really set the tone for this year, really start to level set what's been going on over the past uh couple of months uh since we have not had a chance to talk with you, and to really start to have the discussion of what's next with the project. So, again, we couldn't do it with our guy, Kyle, to make this thing happen. So we'll start it off pretty quickly. And I know um everybody's gonna be interested about what's next with this project. So uh, Kyle, tell us over the past couple of months, let's level set with everybody about where the project has been, some milestones. Again, we got some great uh things to announce to everybody, and also begin to discuss what are the major next steps for this project between now and June.

SPEAKER_04 1:43

Yeah, for sure. So it's been a busy winter, the Blue Line Extension Project. We've got a full project office working hard on advancing our design and engineering plans. So we're uh approaching 90% design, which is a huge milestone. That means mostly everything is designed and engineered, and we know um, you know, more or less what we're gonna build and how we're gonna build it, um, which is a big thing. So we'll be rolling out 90% designs for public review and feedback starting the spring, kind of into the summer. We'll do a phased approach like we did with the 60% design plans last year. So a lot of work going into that. We're also continuing to work real closely with uh FTA and the Federal Transit Administration on what's called a uh uh risk assessment process. And so that's where the project uh documents every single possible risk under the sun um that could you know have any kind of impact on either budget or timeline. Um, and then we come up with a plan to address those risks should they arise and should should there be a need. And so it's a very robust, uh long process with the FTA. There's a lot of back and forth between the project and um federal transit and administrators and our partners over there. Um it is taking a little bit longer than we would have liked. Um so we're we're a little bit behind schedule this year to start, but um, we're making really steady progress with the FTA, and this is a really important step, and it's important for us to be thorough here um because it it is basically our plan for any contingency that could arise throughout construction. Right.

SPEAKER_03 3:14

I mean, what the the the big story behind what you just shared with us is that steady progress in partnership with the feds is moving on, yeah, which is an amazing story with everybody's thoughts about the challenges um currently at the federal um level. But talk more about even the details regarding the FTA. They come and visit, they are in communication, constant communication, kind of go deeper into that to allowing the community to understand things are moving.

SPEAKER_04 3:45

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So um, yeah, it's it's kind of the FTA that we work real closely with, and then what's called a project management oversight uh consultant, yeah, uh PMOC. And so those are experts from around the country that come and review all of our plans, all of our um our all of our risks and everything. And so we work really closely with both all three um of us together. And so, yeah, I mean, certainly, you know, we are in regular communication with the FTA on a week-to-week basis. Um, they they've come out and and visited us at the project office out in St. Louis Park. Just over the winter, we had them out here, and then we were actually just down in Chicago uh visiting with FTA with FTA region 5.

SPEAKER_03 4:25

That's great progress across the board that the community should feel heartened about this next steps.

SPEAKER_04 4:30

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean, progress continues to be made, right? I mean, we're moving forward at a steady pace, and these projects always take a very long time from kind of conception to completion. Um, and there's always hiccups along the way. And but yeah, we are absolutely making steady progress. I mean, approaching 90% design is huge.

SPEAKER_03 4:49

That's a huge conversation point. Within that, so we're hitting that 90-90% design and everything else. We're starting to understand where the trees are going to be and everything. I mean, it's it's a really remarkable piece. Remind people about what the impact is to places like North Minneapolis and along Broadway and 21st going into um our suburban partners with Robin, Robinsdale Crystal and Brooklyn Park. Because what people are always understanding is how is this really going to affect me? So just remind people where what's going to happen, especially with the both and with 21st and Broadway, and then also how it goes into the rest of Botner.

SPEAKER_04 5:25

Sure. Yeah. So uh just as a reminder, the route kind of comes out of Target Field down uh 10th in in Minneapolis in the North Loop, and then it turns up on Washington. Uh so there's a station at Plymouth Avenue, and then another station at Washington Avenue. At that point, it will turn and cross the highway 94 on a new bridge that will connect to 21st Avenue. So that new bridge will be a new kind of connection for community across the highway, too, which is absolutely a barrier between you know North Minneapolis and the river and jobs and entertainment and everything going on on the other side of the river there. Um so we're excited about that. And then yeah, it goes down uh 21st Avenue on um a new transit way. So we'll we'll be taking cars off of 21st Avenue, adding some greenery, making it a kind of multimodal um transit mall. So spaces for people biking and walking and really good street lighting in there, um, and some new new some new green spaces and and landscaping as well. Yeah. Um, and so of course there are some property impacts, and there is a lot of misinformation about the property impacts too. And we've seen this you know come up even during the legislative session. Um, but so I mean, just you know, to level said, there will be 14 property acquisitions that are residential in all of Minneapolis. And so there have been other numbers floating around out there. I think someone said 200 homes will be taken in North Minneapolis. I had heard six at one point. 600. Yeah, we're not totally sure where people are getting those numbers from, but it is all very clearly documented in the supplemental final environmental impact statement, which is available on our website. And you have a blog post that um also kind of breaks it down and goes into great detail about the actual property impacts.

SPEAKER_03 7:14

Exactly. I mean, because what people really need to understand is that this project has been taking great deal and care to ensure that it limits the impact on the community. We'll talk about that a little bit later about the impact of community engagement, but let's keep going down the path because again, the not only does 21st get this amazing asset, but Broadway itself. What's going along Broadway?

SPEAKER_04 7:38

Yeah, so uh the the decision to put the tracks on 21st Avenue was actually a community idea. So that was something that we got through community engagement and and ended up implementing. Um and that was because there were concerns about business impacts on West Broadway through that section. When we made that decision, we also heard, well, wait a minute, like West Broadway really needs to be updated. It's an unsafe roadway today, it's not very uh friendly to pedestrians or people walking. And so we ultimately decided that as part of the traffic mitigation plan is what we call it. We're taking cars off of 21st Avenue, we would also reconstruct that portion of West Broadway between Lindale and James Avenue to take care of that portion, yeah. Yeah, so that'll be a full reconstruction of West Broadway in that area. And so we'll be doing a kind of traffic reconfiguration to make sure that traffic moves safely and smoothly through that corridor, um, you know, widening some sidewalks, adding some some trees and street lighting and um kind of more more public spaces. It's also a below ground um reconstruction as well. So a lot of the um utilities and infrastructure underneath the roadway on West Broadway are in some cases more than 100 years old. Um, you know, people have issues with water, you know, coming up in their basements when it rains a lot. Yeah, electricity can be spotty, and it's because like it's very outdated um infrastructure for for underneath the roadway. So West Broadway will get you know new new storm sewer, um, all new kind of infrastructure underneath the roadway, um, which will really modernize that that area and make sure that people have infrastructure they can rely on.

SPEAKER_03 9:20

Exactly. I mean, we have to remind people that we're still working with the street grid of 18, whatever. Um, and that's not an exaggeration, actually. We can probably get that, we can get the actual um roads and the current conditions. These are all 100-year-old streets that have just basically built upon it and have not been able to deal with these things. So, this is a great asset for the community that it's investing in itself to be able to stabilize opportunities for our businesses as well as our residential area and start to modernize for the next hundred years. I mean, so you talked a little bit about the community engagement side of things. Go a little bit deeper into the conversation about how it has informed some other key ideas, you know, the addition of the stops and all those types of things.

SPEAKER_04 10:10

Sure. Yeah. So the addition of the stop at uh Washington and West Broadway was a request by the city based on what um what they were hearing from people that live in that area and um Minneapolis residents. And so we did um add a station there. Uh Lowry Avenue station has been completely redesigned based on stakeholder and community input. And so we're now avoiding direct crossings of roadways and trails in that area. We're adding some new bridges, um, while really importantly, maintaining an at-grade station. So it means the station is at ground level. Um, you don't have to take a stairs or an elevator to get to the station to get on the train.

SPEAKER_03 10:49

You can just walk or roll right on. The amazing accessibility that is a hallmark to our district, uh, to our overall system that, you know, quite honestly, I've had we're gonna bring in people such as our friends, um, Ken and Claudia pretty soon. We've been great advocates on accessibility. So it there's been a lot of talk about, you know, the the challenges of the line, the the the ridership. I know we've we've kind of dealt with that a couple of times, and you know, we want to be able to set the record about, okay, yes, this is where we are today. What are some of those things that um the system is looking at in order to improve more access, but also maybe excite some people to getting back on the train again and actually just using the full system?

SPEAKER_04 11:34

Yeah, yeah, for sure. So, I mean, it's it is important to keep in mind that we are building a system, right? And the blue line extension is a really important part of that.

SPEAKER_05 11:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:42

We say that you know, the blue line extension is kind of the missing northern leg of our light rail network. We've got the green line that connects us east-west, exactly, uh, the two downtowns. Green line extension will be opening next year. Uh it goes from downtown uh west um to Eden Prairie, and then we've got the existing blue line, which goes from you know the uh downtown Minneapolis down to the airport in all of America. And so this really is the kind of missing northern leg. And ridership on light rail also supports ridership on our local buses and rapid buses. So um there'll be a few different rapid bus um projects that do connect with the blue line. Um so people will be able to transfer to those. There's you know the A-line, obviously, the D line, uh the C line, um, and and and some others that are in the queue too that would be at the opening here in the in in the coming years.

SPEAKER_03 12:30

And that's in well, I mean uh not to to to add to that, reminding people that we already have a pretty extensive BRT system within this overall um ecosystem of the transit. So when people call for things such as we need to make sure that, you know, well, we can make this into a BRT, that's not what we're doing here with this project.

SPEAKER_04 12:52

Yeah, yeah, that's it that's a good point. You know, our our system needs both BRT and light rail and local bus and microtransit. I mean, that's how you really give people the freedom to move. It's all these different modes of transit working together to make sure that people can get to any number of destinations that they need to. And you know, the really important part about the blue line extension is that it is an extension of the existing blue line. Exactly. So you can take it all the way down to the Mall of America or any one of the stops along the way um without having to transfer. And we know that you know having to transfer is the biggest deterrent for people choosing to take transit for any particular trip. Usually people are okay with one transfer, maybe two transfers if they're convenient and frequent. Um, but you know, obviously if the Blue Line Extension were to be a bus rapid transit, which it's not, that would require a transfer at um Target Guild Station. Yes. Um, and that would certainly hurt ridership and make it not as useful of a uh of a transit line.

SPEAKER_03 13:54

I I think you hit on some major points there. Again, as we say intern, you know, internally, we're starting to get it out there, your connection the more. The reality is that someone from Brooklyn Park and that Target campus out there and and and points all the way through can now connect from Brooklyn Park all the way down to the airport and literally airport to the world. Yeah. I mean, for two bits, yeah, as as they used to say back in the day. Um, the reality now is it makes it more affordable. Hit that affordability conversation about the responsibility of a line like this to be able to connect people to more.

SPEAKER_04 14:28

Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. I mean, affordability is a huge piece of it. You know, we've all seen what's happening with the price of gas recently, and uh, you know, who knows what the future holds on that. Cost of owning a car is also about $14,000 a year now, which people you know tend to discount, but that is not an insignificant um chunk of change. So the the the affordability piece is big, right? So let's consider if you're you know a Brooklyn Park resident and you're going on spring break vacation, yeah, and you want to get to the airport. It's either going to be a $40,000, $50 Uber ride to get down there, or you know, you're driving your own car and then paying to park it at the airport. You know, when you consider both trips, you know, you're easily over $100, maybe multiple hundred dollars, depending on the decisions you can with the blue line extension, it's uh two dollar fare each way.

SPEAKER_03 15:17

It's an amazing, I mean, cost savings for people. It's convenient, it is efficient. I mean, because honestly, let's just keep it simple. The runtime from Brooklyn Park in the target target um north all the way down to light rail is going to be comparable to what you're doing through traffic in the first place. A little bit more convenience. And yes, you get your own, you know, stacks of rail station up, but you can bring those along, you know, to be uh honest. But the reality is that for something that's cheaper, more efficient, more effective, you're able to make some major things happen.

SPEAKER_04 15:50

Yeah, and you know, the point is really to give people the option to choose that. It it might not always be faster than driving, depending on where you're going, right? But while you're driving and sitting in traffic, you know, you can't be answering emails on your phone, scrolling social media, reading a book, whatever it is. So, you know, it is kind of a lifestyle choice that people make too, right? It's how do I want to spend that time commuting between work and home, or how do I want to spend that time between you know visiting family and friends and um home or whatever it is that you're moving through the world doing. Um and so you know, it it is there is definitely a convenience factor to it. Um, it also, you know, people have to make the decision to do it, right? And a lot of people um, you know, just need to give transit a chance, and they'll find that it's it's quite nice.

SPEAKER_03 16:39

I I like it. It's almost you know, give transit a chance. Let's see the tagline right now. We're we're gonna start the 26 um season right now. You know, some of the things we're setting up the conversation points, you know, about the affordability. We'll hit conversations around economic development that takes place in one, you know, the reason why you'd like to do LRT over BRT. One of the major issues have been public safety. And we'll we're gonna bring in Chief Chief Dossith and several other people to talk about that. But from your standpoint, let's talk just a little bit and set the conversation up from there.

SPEAKER_04 17:13

Yeah, certainly. So, I mean, like every transit system in America, you know, there were safety and security issues that arose, especially during the pandemic. And it's taken systems a long time to build out of that. There was kind of a um a loss of civility on on transit systems during the pandemic when everyone was working from home and you know, people weren't riding as much. And you know, a lot of that comes down to when there are less people on the train, there's more opportunities for people to misbehave. Yeah. Um, you know, it's kind of the the eyes on the street um philosophy there. Yeah. Um, the good news is the Metro Transit has done a terrific job in developing and now implementing their uh safety and security action plan. And so riding the train or buses today is a very different experience than it was even two years ago, where you know they have greatly expanded the official presence. And we'll I'm sure we'll go into detail with this with future guests. Yeah, but I mean that you're more likely to see some type of official presence on light rail today than not, in my personal experience. And they've you know done a great job of increasing the ranks of Metro Transit PD, but also recognizing that not every uh issue requires a law enforcement solution to it either, right? So they're also working with community organizations to put kind of social workers on trains and people that are able to connect people struggling with homelessness or or substance use issues to resources and and and things that can help them, um, which has got a long way. One of a really big innovation, too, is that they now have more than a hundred, maybe more than 150 trip agents, which are people wearing official metro transit um, you know, vests and going around and checking fares, making sure that people have paid and asking them to please please leave if they haven't, and um also enforcing the code of conduct, um, which is things like you know, no smoking, no loud music, all the things that um, you know, people think of when they say, I don't know if I want to ride the train and then have to sit on a car with someone smoking a cigarette.

SPEAKER_03 19:20

Yeah. We've come a long way as a society. I mean, think about we've almost eradicated in public spaces for smoking, and now the expectation is not to have it at all. So it's we're we're moving in the right direction, trying to keep people healthy. I know that you have a couple of you know things that are going on within community. What comes to your mind first right off the bat?

SPEAKER_00 19:42

I would say for me right now, it's just really about connecting with community from uh from a Hennepin County standpoint. We've been uh launching the operation reconnect, which is just having our services listed in like a QR form, uh easy access so people can know like if they need help with housing, with food, uh instability, um, with medical, you know, services. Um, we're just trying to be responsive and letting people know that because I feel like people often don't think about the amount of uh resources that the county can offer them. So it's just uh me being a practitioner is you know, we've been uh we're trying to be in person as much as possible for now, you know. Um like we've been at the Walker uh the last week, and we've just been handing out uh wellness kits, we've been handing out hygiene kits, we've been handing out activity kits to kids, uh, we've been signing up people for housing, we've been getting people tested. So it's just been about a very hands-on deck kind of situation. You've been having people from streets to housing, from uh the liveness project. Um we just want to let people know that there's a lot of resources, and then we also have a a uh resident survey that um just talks about concerns and things that people would like to see and then uh using that uh information to bring it to leadership so that way we can actually and that change. So that's been that's been some of the the main focus. Um and then just trying to get the youth involved, that's been a a charge that um there's been a gap in youth involvement, so we want to engage the youth more because they are the future of the project. So I mean that's always uh you know, we gotta understand what their concerns are because they're the ones that are growing up and they gotta navigate you know, through these systems. So I think it's important that we have them engaged and we bring them to the table. So that's really from my standpoint where I'm at.

SPEAKER_03 21:56

No, I think that's very I mean, those are critical pieces because what we're Trying to do is make sure that people feel that the train or that the system is not even so much about getting onto a train, it's getting to where I need to be efficiently, effectively, and cost-effectively. And having access to information where, quite honestly, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people use on a consistent basis, they're able to connect with those type of resources in real time is pretty critical. And this is a very unique opportunity for us.

SPEAKER_04 22:29

Yeah, absolutely. And we'll definitely have to get some young people on the podcast this season. I mean, we've got some connections, and um, I think you know, we've we've done some great activities engaging the youth. We did the Youth Dream Summit last year, um, which is a big success. And we've actually got a blog post that we'll be putting up here in the next couple of weeks, uh, really kind of highlighting some young people's voices about this project specifically. And something that we you know hear a lot is that transit is really important to young people. I mean, especially if you don't have a driver's license or maybe don't have access to a car, which a lot of people in this corridor do not. You know, transit is freedom for them, and it's the ability to not have to beg someone for a ride to get to your you know sports practice or go see friends. Um you know, it also is gonna open up a lot of job opportunities for people that weren't available before. And that's you know, people of every age, but young people too.

SPEAKER_03 23:23

Exactly. Before we we're starting to get down to that point where we're going to start to set up the remainder of the year, you know, how do we get a hold of you? Those type of key pieces. Talk about the jobs, about that that brings that that this process, this opportunity brings to the community.

SPEAKER_04 23:41

Yeah, I mean, I I I like to say that this is the biggest jobs project in the state right now.

SPEAKER_05 23:46

Um, right.

SPEAKER_04 23:47

So there's uh just from building the line, there's gonna be 6,000 construction jobs um created to build the line. And we're um working with a bunch of workforce leaders in the region to develop a workforce development program to go along with this project to make sure uh the people in the corridor are able to qualify for jobs working, actually building the project. And um, that involves, you know, both getting the certifications and the education, developing the skills to be able to get those jobs, um, as well as the education. We're also thinking more broadly than that, too. Um, you know, we want people in the corridor to be able to take full advantage of the increased access to employment opportunities that will come from the line and just the nature of being able to get to more places easily and reliably. Um, you know, when uh the the trains tend to run on time for the most part and they get you where you need to go when you need to go. So when you need to be to a job uh on time at the same time every day, uh the train is a really great option because it is reliable, it's frequent, and it's fast. Um and so there are is gonna be uh access to 23,000 more jobs uh for people in the corridor than they can access by transit today. Wow. Um and that is 23,000 more jobs with no more than a single transfer. Yeah. Um, which is a lot of employment opportunities. Yes. We also, you know, like to remind people of the long-term um economic impacts of a project like this and the jobs prospects just from the economic growth that we've seen along light rail and the long-term development that ends up happening, you know, when you look at every aspect of a project like this, and that's you know, building the line, it's uh the supply chain for getting the the materials to build it and all the other industries that are supported, you know, through a three billion dollar infrastructure investment that aren't directly part of it, but you know, help make that happen. Exactly. And then combine that with the jobs associated with the economic growth that um comes with these projects. Also, development that takes a long thing.

SPEAKER_03 25:52

What we what we talked about before, 12 potential, 12x, 10x, 12x, and multiplier potentially.

SPEAKER_04 25:57

Yeah, yeah. So I mean we we say that um we'll we that through the analysis we've done, this project will support 40,000 jobs um over the long term through the economic growth of the supply chains, both direct and indirect.

SPEAKER_03 26:10

That staves off recessions, it does, yeah. Yeah, that's huge. The the one major thing that I've always been kind of really excited about is you can really transform a community. You can, you know, and you know, especially for areas that normally get left out. You know, North Minneapolis has been really challenged at times. Um, Brooklyn Park has been challenged at times. You're talking about the potential of connecting not just tens of thousands of jobs but opportunities and even reimagining how this community plays out as well.

SPEAKER_04 26:40

Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean, uh, so we know that development in of new housing, of new commercial space for businesses does follow these light rail investments. So today, just in the Twin Cities, there's been more than $13 billion of new development that has come up near a light rail line. Wow. Um, and that's you know, oh gosh, I don't have the numbers right off the top of my head. But about I want to say it's 30% of the um development throughout the region, 25 or 30 percent of development throughout the region has happened near light rail on just 1% of the line. That is huge. Um, it is huge, yeah. And you know, the other thing that people don't always think about with that is that with that new development comes increased tax base for local municipalities. And that is, you know, that's tax base that supports schools, that supports services, that supports um, you know, other infrastructure projects in these communities. And so, you know, light rail projects really do help the cities that they go through and the entire region, because that tax base ends up supporting um investments clear across the entire state.

SPEAKER_03 27:48

I d I love how you said clear across the state because this is a statewide conversation. This is not just about the Hennepin County or even the metropolitan area. This is a statewide activity, a state action and pride to be able to get at par to the rest of our communities across the country, which we'll be bringing friends from across the country as well to this podcast as well.

SPEAKER_06 28:09

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:11

Any last major thoughts that you know, any aha's that we we can leave the group, because again, we're setting the stage for the remainder of 2026 and really starting to understand, well, start to share with people the not only the challenges and then how we'll work together in order to make it happen with the community, but the opportunities that come out of it. But sure. I mean, any any major last aha's that we can share right now?

SPEAKER_04 28:34

Yeah, I mean, I think you know, something that people might have seen in the news recently is about a dip in light rail ridership last year, which there was about a 14% dip in annual light rail ridership. And there are probably quite a few reasons behind that. For one, you know, light rail was closed for maintenance uh more days last year than than it it typically is. Um, you know, the other thing that we're looking into more is just the impact that the increased enforcement that I was talking about earlier has had on on ridership. Yeah. Um, right. And so it's it's always a double-edged sword, right? Increased enforcement means that you know you're having less people that aren't paying for their fares, less people that, you know, are maybe not there for um the same reasons that other people would want them to be. Um you see less of those people riding, and there's gonna be a lag time too, right? And so with with the increased enforcement, you're getting less of the people that you know are there to misbehave.

SPEAKER_05 29:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 29:35

Um, but we haven't seen people come back just yet. Um, right. And so I think there are a lot of people that maybe stopped riding during the pandemic and heard it was unsafe or you know had a a a bad experience themselves and maybe you know stopped riding. And so as those conditions have improved, there's I think kind of a lag of people coming back to transit too. And so again, you know, the ridership is always a short-term um thing. Yeah, the safety and security is a short-term thing. Um, you know, a one-year dip is something that we're taking seriously and and certainly looking at how how we can address that and what what happened there. Um, but it's also not something that, you know, we're gonna change the course on a three billion dollar light rail project that's been 30 years and I make it.

SPEAKER_03 30:23

We're staying the course, everybody. We're gonna continue on from that standpoint. In our last moments again, Kyle, where can we find you? Um, and if again, you're gonna be a frequent, you know, uh guest on not a guest, you're gonna be producing as well as probably you know helping us get some of these messages out. But where can they find you right now?

SPEAKER_04 30:41

Yeah, I mean, so certainly blue lineext.org has got contact information for all of our staff and all of our wonderful outreach and engagement staff are on there. Um, all the information you could ever want to know about the project is there. Um, it can be a lot to to dig through. And so certainly don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, or if you'd even like to sit down with some project staff and and talk through anything, we're always happy to do that. Um, so yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:07

And we'll hesitate to reach out. We'll make sure we put the super on there as well so people can actually reach out. You know, our our big thing right now is how do we continue to share the information on a consistent basis? We're gonna be bringing a lot of guests in um from not just from the um the project standpoint, but what's happening across the country, you know, other projects, you know, what they've experienced, and and knowing that we're not alone in this place, you know, and we are building the world-class um infrastructure, yeah, you know, to be able to take care of the needs of not today, but tomorrow, you know, and the next days, and it's not on behalf of those who already, you know, have their lives established, it's it's about our future. And so one of the things that we're really excited about is continue to tell these stories and also telling the real story, you know. I know there's been a lot of things that have been floating out here. You're gonna get the real information from people in real time, and we're really excited about that. So, you know, it's ready for an another season as we're starting to get this thing going. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 32:08

Looking forward to it. I think there's a lot we can do with this platform, and I'm really excited about some of the guests that we have lined up. And um, yeah, we're gonna have a good time doing it.

SPEAKER_03 32:18

And then Rich is gonna run, you know, help us out with the 5K or something like that. I mean, what I mean, that got something to man.

SPEAKER_01 32:24

I'm definitely down with the 5k for sure. Yeah, uh, let me know what I need to do.

SPEAKER_03 32:29

Well, we're looking for I mean, we want to keep the people active and everything else, and I think that this is a great connecting place, and we'll be coming from you know on a pretty pretty frequent um process, not every week, every two weeks is our name for every two weeks. Yeah, yeah. So be on the lookout and they'll be able to get it through um our usual activities of Facebook, Instagram, all the rules. We're gonna be everywhere because we want to make sure that you have the information real time.

SPEAKER_02 32:59

Um we're gonna conclude this technical. No, this is not the last time we'll just do this through um but we'll find off for this second for the fact that we're gonna get a little bit of a good thing.