County Board Actions: Votes keep Southwest Light Rail project moving

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969

Votes keep Southwest Light Rail project moving

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners held special meetings today to discuss the METRO Green Line Extension (Southwest LRT) project and hear from the public. 

Acting first as the county board and then as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority board, the commissioners voted 5-2 to increase the county’s funding commitment by $190 million and the railroad authority’s funding commitment by $14 million. That makes for a total of $204 million more in local funding committed by Hennepin County toward a revised total project budget of $2.003 billion. While these actions approve the revised budget, they do not authorize the expenditure of funds.

In a separate set of actions, both boards voted 6-1 to continue paying their shares of the project through August 31, 2018. 

Later this summer, the boards will consider extending their funding into 2019 and approving the additional actions that would advance the project into construction. 

As a condition of today’s funding commitments, the county imposed more financial controls on the project. Now an Executive Change Control Board including Hennepin County commissioners must review and approve any significant project changes and use of contingency. Hennepin County staff also will be taking a more active role in the project, helping to ensure timely sharing of information and joint decision-making with the Metropolitan Council.

Read more about these decisions.

Action request to the Hennepin County Board

Action request to the Regional Railroad Authority


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Current and archival board meetings, agendas and minutes are available online. View at www.hennepin.us/boardmeetings

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