Despite cost overruns and construction delays, Metro Transit is offering up a preview of the Green Line extension project that's adding 14.5 miles of rail to the existing tracks heading southwest from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.
Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene said on Thursday morning at one of the planned stops in Hopkins, that every dollar has been scrutinized when it comes this project, which has gone through some significant cost overruns.
"I feel confident in how this project has been executed, so I have full confidence in that," says Greene. "And I also, as I think about transit and light rail, you know, I would also challenge us to hold road and bridge projects to the same very high standard."
The Southwest Light Rail project was estimated to cost just north of $2 billion, and open in 2023.
Now, that estimated cost is more than $2.7 billion and the line won't open to riders until sometime in 2027.
"Over the last five years of construction, the project has encountered several construction challenges that have increased costs and caused delays," explains the Met Council on the Green Line extension page. "This is not uncommon for a project the size and complexity of the METRO Green Line Extension."
The Met Council says the project already resulted in $3.1 billion worth of new development in the Twin Cities. That includes over $329 million in new development in Hopkins, including 1,300 new multi-family housing units, including 260 affordable units.
"You're surrounded today by a community that is over 50% black indigenous and people of color, many living in low income situations," explains Hopkins mayor Patrick Hanlon. "This line is driving growth and opportunity and a chance for those folks to connect to what we like to call the Greater Hopkins area."
In October, Metro Transit began doing some tests on tracks between St. Louis Park and Eden Prairie with more tests scheduled for the Minneapolis portion later. 4,000 tests are planned between now and when the first passengers board the trains.
There are three phases of this project remaining including completing the current phase of track installation and station and structure construction, systems construction phase, and system and operational testing.
"The Met Council stands behind this project. For 40 years, we’ve all imagined this investment, and we’re committed to finishing the job," writes the Met Council.
