The Maplewood City Council passed three resolutions Monday night rescinding support from the Purple Line and directing the city to look into alternative transit options.

The resolutions included one to support public transit while requesting discussion with relevant entities to learn more about alternatives to the Purple Line, one withdrawing support from Bruce Vento Regional Trail corridor alignment and one withdrawing from the White Bear Avenue alternative.

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The first resolution requesting discussion on alternative options was supported 4 to 1, with council member Nikki Villavicencio opposed, and the resolution withdrawing support from Bruce Vento Regional Trail corridor alignment received unanimous council support.

Motion withdrawing support

The third resolution withdrawing support from the White Bear Avenue alternative was passed by the council 3 to 2, with council members Chonburi Lee and Villavicencio opposed.

Lee said he felt blindsided by the council’s Sept. 9 decision during a council workshop to bring the three resolutions forward and said he considered the decision to withdraw to be premature.

Lee made a motion to table the resolution until the council received final recommendations from the Purple Line project team in October and to direct staff to develop a comprehensive public engagement plan.

The motion was opposed three to two.

Mayor Marylee Abrams and council member Kathleen Juenemann repeated many of the concerns they mentioned at the Sept. 9 meeting, including issues with ridership numbers and disruption for businesses in the area.

“I’m applying common sense. I support transit. We need transit, but I think we can do better than a $450 million project that will take two years of construction that will rip up White Bear Avenue,” Abrams said.

Support for project

State Rep. Peter Fischer, DFL-Maplewood, wrote a letter expressing support for the Purple Line, citing positive impacts it would have on businesses dealing with labor shortages and Century College students. Bus routes are not guaranteed to continue in an area, unlike permanent lines like the Purple Line, Fischer said.

Lack of reliable transportation can leave people unable to attend medical appointments, make it to work or finish classes needed for their degree, Fischer said.

Others who expressed support for the Purple Line included Century College President Angelia Millender, the Hmong American Partnership, the East Side Area Business Association board of directors and other local organizations.

Following the Sept. 9 council meeting, the Met Council and Ramsey County released statements expressing support for the Purple Line.

The statements were released as part of a memo from Purple Line project staff “addressing factually incorrect and misleading information stated during the Sept. 9 Maplewood City Council workshop.” The memo can be accessed at metrotransit.org/purple-line-project.

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