A group representing Asian businesses has filed a federal complaint against the Metropolitan Council, alleging the agency didn't properly study possible negative effects on minority communities and businesses along the planned Central Corridor light-rail line.
The Concerned Asian Business Owners, which represents about 30 businesses, submitted the complaint to the Federal Transit Administration last week. It's the second federal complaint lodged against the 11-mile line that will connect the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
About 46 percent of residents along the line are Asian, black or Hispanic, a concentration of minorities more than double the minority population in the region.
Governmental agencies that want federal money for projects are required to study possible adverse effects on minority and low-income groups. It's called an environmental justice study.
Project spokeswoman Laura Baenen pointed out that the federal government approved the final environmental justice study in August.
The business owners group enlisted the help of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, which analyzed the Met Council's study and conducted a survey of businesses in the area.
The 14-page analysis asserts the line would unduly harm minority communities and businesses. It says the Met Council's environmental justice study ignores "numerous expressions of concern that the project as designed would cause irreparable injury to racial minorities along the corridor."
One of the glaring deficiencies, the analysis states, is how the permanent loss of 85 percent of on-street parking will affect small businesses. The analysis found that 69 percent of businesses within an 11-block area that are likely to be hit hard by the loss of parking are owned or operated by Asians.
