Southwest Light Rail Transit faces a budget increase and a schedule change after the project partners revisited environmental and construction concerns at a committee meeting May 20.

According to John Welbes, communications officer for the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT), the cost increased around $341 million, bringing the overall budget from $1.6 billion to $1.9 billion.

Factors contributing to the budget increase include additional property acquisitions, bridges, retaining walls and connecting roads, according to Welbes. He also said poor ground conditions and soil contamination along some parts of the St. Louis Park route increased costs as well.

Findings in the Kenilworth corridor, he said, caused new environmental requirements that also raised the cost, such as waterproofing, foundations and ventilation systems.

Welbes said the project is hoping to decrease the new cost again, but has yet to determine what budget cuts would help.

“The city’s involved started talking about the process of trimming the SWLRT budget to get it back to $1.65 billion,” Welbes said. “The heart of that work will come in the next few weeks.”

Welbes said while the project office created a list of possible cost reductions, including design and engineering modifications, committee members have made no final decisions.

In addition to the cost increase, Welbes said the opening of the line, originally meant to open in early 2019, was pushed back to 2020 due to delays caused by the continued debate over the route and span of the project.

To learn more or sign up for updates, visit swlrt.org.