Minneapolis council OKs next stage of Southwest light-rail project

The Minneapolis City Council last week gave its consent to the Metropolitan Council to pursue the Southwest light-rail project, also known as the Green Line Extension.

The city's approval allows the Metropolitan Council to seek federal approval to enter the final engineering stage for the line, which would run from downtown Minneapolis through the communities of St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. The proposed alignment is primarily at-grade and includes 17 new stations and about 15.8-miles of double track.

Hennepin County and the cities of Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins and St. Louis Park have already approved the project, Metropolitan Council officials said in a press release.

"The Southwest light-rail line is an equitable transit investment that when coupled with planned bus service improvements, will enhance the ability of corridor residents including low-income, transit-dependent and minority communities to access good jobs, education and community amenities," said Metropolitan Council Chair Susan Haigh in a prepared statement.

Council officials are "committed to having an ongoing conversation with the community as the Southwest light-rail project continues through the phases of engineering and construction," she added.