FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Caleb Jungling, 651.296.5529 (desk)
Caleb.Jungling@house.mn.gov
News Release
Rep. Robbins’ Bill Calls for Accountability on Light Rail Spending
ST. PAUL, MN – Today, the Minnesota House debated House File 14, a bill introduced by Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) to implement a moratorium on funding for the proposed Blue Line Light Rail Extension. The legislation aims to rein in unchecked cost overruns and delays that have plagued Minnesota’s light rail projects for years.
“Minnesotans have been forced to pay more than twice the original cost of the Southwest Light Rail, which has ballooned from $1.25 billion to $2.9 billion and is nearly a decade behind schedule. In the six years I have served in the House, we have been repeatedly told we couldn’t stop Southwest Light Rail because too much money had already been spent and too much rail had already been laid. We don’t need to make the same mistake again. We need to take a step back and demand accountability before committing more taxpayer dollars to additional light rail projects,” Robbins said. “This bill isn’t about opposing transit—it’s about ensuring we are finding the most efficient and cost-effective transit options that will meet the needs of the community into the future.”
The costs of the Blue Line Extension have already tripled, and construction has not even started. Back in 2014, it was projected to cost $999 million and be operational by 2022. Now, in 2025, it is expected to cost $3.2 billion and be operational by 2030. In a post-COVID world, fewer people commute downtown to work and ridership numbers have declined significantly.
“Minnesotans are facing rising costs for everyday essentials, yet they’re still being asked to fund expensive light rail projects when it is clear that bus rapid transit would be much more efficient and affordable.” Robbins added. “Many members of the communities along the corridor have reached out to me to help them stop this project. Light rail construction would force businesses to shut down for six years, and many fear they will not survive. Hundreds of homes will be torn down. People don’t know where they will live, and they don’t want their communities torn up and divided. We need to pause new projects, learn from past failures, and ensure that we are building a transit system that is flexible, affordable, and able to meet the needs of the future.”
While House File 14 did not pass, it was brought up for reconsideration and tabled for potential action in the future. The bill underscores the urgent need for reform in transit funding. Rep. Robbins and House Republicans remain committed to ensuring fiscal responsibility in transit planning and will continue advocating for solutions that prioritize Minnesota taxpayers.
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