In October 2019, the METRO Gold Line project published an environmental assessment report, an analysis required by state and federal governments that describes the transportation, social and environmental benefits and impacts associated with the project.
The community had an opportunity to review and comment on the report last fall. The Gold Line project received 35 comments during the 30-day public comment period. The comments and questions received mostly focused on property impacts, landscaping and greenery, safety, noise and connections to new and existing transit service.
The environmental report and the comments collected on the report were submitted to the Federal Transit Administration for review. After reviewing and responding to the comments, the Federal Transit Administration determined that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Gold Line and have cleared the project to continue design and engineering.
A Gold Line environmental document announcing this decision was published January 17 and includes responses to the comments on the environmental report.
You can review the environmental decision document and responses to comments:
Electronically: metrotransit.org/gold-line-environmental
Hard copy: Gold Line Project Office, 121 N 7th Place East, Suite 102, Saint Paul, MN 55101
This federal decision is the first environmental requirement that the Gold Line project needed to move forward since entering the Federal Capital Investment Grant program. Later this year, the Gold Line project will submit the environmental report and the environmental decision document to the Federal Highway Administration and the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board for review because of potential impacts to Interstate 94 and to ensure the project abides by state environmental laws.
Connect with Gold Line staff
If you are interested in connecting about the Gold Line project or having Gold Line staff come to your neighborhood group, community organization, business or event, please reach out to Liz Jones, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 651-602-1977 or elizabeth.jones@metrotransit.org
Follow us on social media
Get the latest Gold Line BRT updates by following us on Twitter @GoldLineBRT and Facebook @MetroTransitMN.
Sign up for project updates to get the latest information
If you were forwarded this e-newsletter and want to receive this information directly, sign up to receive the METRO Gold Line project updates: metrotransit.org/gold-line
| 
