Minneapolis approves light rail project

Plans still in the works before construction can begin

Hannah Bernstein
September 11, 2014

Minneapolis voted in favor of the new Southwest light rail line on August 29, making them the last city required to give consent.

Hopkins, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, and St. Louis Park had already voted in favor of the project. Hennepin County also gave consent on August 20.

James Brimeyer, the Metropolitan Council member representing St. Louis Park, said the project will also need the approval of the Federal Transit Administration in order to continue into the advanced design process.

Laura Baenen, the communications manager for the project, said right now the plans are about 1percent completed, before advanced design begins.

“We have the footprint with these plans,” Baenen said. “When you go through engineering, you continue to fill in the details.”

Baenen also said a document outlining the environmental impact of the project is expected to be released to the public for comment in early 2015. Construction would then be set to begin in 2016 and completed in 2019.

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