Relocation and Property Owner Assistance

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Property ownership enables residents and business owners to build wealth, maintain their place in the community, and develop strong relationships and ties to their neighborhood. For those reasons, the Metropolitan Council is considering every way possible to minimize the need to acquire property to accommodate construction of the rail line and supporting infrastructure while still bringing the benefits of light rail to the community.

Owners and tenants of properties that will be acquired are the top priority for anti-displacement actions. In these instances, the Metropolitan Council will provide several relocation assistance services to residents and businesses owners, as required by the Council’s policies, as well as by federal and local regulations. Below, readers can view actions that will be taken to minimize direct displacement and support owners with relocation.


1. MINIMIZE Property (Right-of-Way) Acquisition

The primary way the Project minimizes displacement through the Right-of-Way Acquisition process is by intentionally designing the LRT in a way that requires as little property acquisition as possible. Still, in order to bring the benefits of LRT to the community, some property will need to be acquired to provide space for the Project to be constructed and for the LRT to operate. During environmental review, the Project studied various route options and consulted with the community and property owners to reduce the need for property acquisition while also maintaining the project purpose to provide fast and efficient transit service that connects people and destinations. When property is needed, staff will work with owners to lessen the impact as much as possible. For example, where a building or garage needs to

be removed to make space for the LRT alignment, staff may work with owners to only acquire enough property needed to fit the infrastructure, allowing the remainder of the property to stay with the existing property owner. The space needs for LRT will vary along the alignment and will increase near stations and other larger LRT infrastructure locations.

Status: In place
Owner: Metropolitan Council
(Before and during construction)


2. Where properties must be acquired, ASSIST property owners and tenants with relocation.

Metropolitan Council Relocation Assistance: This program is the Council’s local implementation of the Uniform Relocation Assistance Act. Parties eligible for Relocation Assistance include residents, businesses, non-profits, and farms. Under the program, one of the Council’s relocation agents will contact every individual required to relocate due to the BLE Project well in advance of the time a move is required. The agent will help individuals find a replacement location and assist with payments for eligible costs of relocating. Residents and businesses are only eligible for assistance under the URA if they move after the federal environmental review process is complete, the Amended Record of Decision is announced, and the relocation assistance is approved. Payments are typically paid as reimbursements of claims for eligible costs.

Status: In place
Owner: Metropolitan Council
(Before and during construction)

3. PURCHASE property and reimburse owners and tenants.

Financial Assistance: In instances where the Project must acquire property, the Metropolitan Council will work with property owners to appraise their property to identify just compensation, then make an offer to owners to purchase the property. If owners accept the offer, the Metropolitan Council will initiate the process to acquire the property and compensate owners. Tenants for rental units or leased spaces will receive financial assistance based on their eligibility.

Status: In place
Owner: Metropolitan Council
(Before and during construction)



Property ownership enables residents and business owners to build wealth, maintain their place in the community, and develop strong relationships and ties to their neighborhood. For those reasons, the Metropolitan Council is considering every way possible to minimize the need to acquire property to accommodate construction of the rail line and supporting infrastructure while still bringing the benefits of light rail to the community.

Owners and tenants of properties that will be acquired are the top priority for anti-displacement actions. In these instances, the Metropolitan Council will provide several relocation assistance services to residents and businesses owners, as required by the Council’s policies, as well as by federal and local regulations. Below, readers can view actions that will be taken to minimize direct displacement and support owners with relocation.


1. MINIMIZE Property (Right-of-Way) Acquisition

The primary way the Project minimizes displacement through the Right-of-Way Acquisition process is by intentionally designing the LRT in a way that requires as little property acquisition as possible. Still, in order to bring the benefits of LRT to the community, some property will need to be acquired to provide space for the Project to be constructed and for the LRT to operate. During environmental review, the Project studied various route options and consulted with the community and property owners to reduce the need for property acquisition while also maintaining the project purpose to provide fast and efficient transit service that connects people and destinations. When property is needed, staff will work with owners to lessen the impact as much as possible. For example, where a building or garage needs to

be removed to make space for the LRT alignment, staff may work with owners to only acquire enough property needed to fit the infrastructure, allowing the remainder of the property to stay with the existing property owner. The space needs for LRT will vary along the alignment and will increase near stations and other larger LRT infrastructure locations.

Status: In place
Owner: Metropolitan Council
(Before and during construction)


2. Where properties must be acquired, ASSIST property owners and tenants with relocation.

Metropolitan Council Relocation Assistance: This program is the Council’s local implementation of the Uniform Relocation Assistance Act. Parties eligible for Relocation Assistance include residents, businesses, non-profits, and farms. Under the program, one of the Council’s relocation agents will contact every individual required to relocate due to the BLE Project well in advance of the time a move is required. The agent will help individuals find a replacement location and assist with payments for eligible costs of relocating. Residents and businesses are only eligible for assistance under the URA if they move after the federal environmental review process is complete, the Amended Record of Decision is announced, and the relocation assistance is approved. Payments are typically paid as reimbursements of claims for eligible costs.

Status: In place
Owner: Metropolitan Council
(Before and during construction)

3. PURCHASE property and reimburse owners and tenants.

Financial Assistance: In instances where the Project must acquire property, the Metropolitan Council will work with property owners to appraise their property to identify just compensation, then make an offer to owners to purchase the property. If owners accept the offer, the Metropolitan Council will initiate the process to acquire the property and compensate owners. Tenants for rental units or leased spaces will receive financial assistance based on their eligibility.

Status: In place
Owner: Metropolitan Council
(Before and during construction)



Page last updated: 09 Sep 2024, 07:35 AM