Despite publicly stated misgivings, the Minneapolis City Council has voted to approve a compromise package advancing the Twin Cities Southwest Light Rail Transit line, linking Minneapolis with Eden Prairie, Minn.
The Federal Transit Administration has given its approval for a fourth light rail transit line to move ahead, which would serve Minnesota’s Twin Cities. The approval adds to a busy LRT year for the region.
Light rail transit ridership on the new Green Line (Central Corridor) in St. Paul has been strong, exceeding some projections, in its first weeks of operation, even as complaints about trip times have surfaced.
Opponents continue to snipe at the proposed Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project, sought by the Metropolitan Council as the third LRT line to serve Minneapolis/St. Paul and surrounding municipalities.
Amidst ongoing light rail transit expansion plans in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Minneapolis also is advancing a prospective route of a different flavor: a 3.4-mile, $230 million initial streetcar line on Nicollet Avenue. In response, the Public Works, Energy and Environment Committee of Hennepin County’s Board of Directors was scheduled to weigh a proposed resolution for the project Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, ideally to provide a firm status update of the proposal.
Minneapolis and the Metropolitan Council jointly announced Tuesday, July 8, 2014, a “tentative agreement” to proceed with the planned development of the Southwest Light Rail Project, linking downtown Minneapolis and Eden Prairie, Minn.
St. Paul’s Central Corridor light rail line, making its service debut Saturday, June 14, 2014, will feature Siemens S70 light rail vehicles tailored to address the city’s specific needs, a Siemens spokespersons said Thursday, June 12.
St. Paul, Minn.’s yet-to-open Green Line (Central Corridor LRT project) is being credited with “at least $2.5 billion worth of new construction and redevelopment projects” by the Metropolitan Council, overseeing public transit in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
Though friction continues from various quarters, a compromise plan for Southwest Light Rail Transit, linking Minneapolis with Eden Prairie, Minn., is gaining support from several parties—but not all.
Minnesota’s Metropolitan Council alerted residents of St. Paul Thursday, March 13, 2014 of more testing along the soon-to-open Green Line light rail transit project, this time involving tests of audio announcements on Friday, March 14.
