Map showing 14.5-mile-long light rail extension. Source: SWLRTP

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) cleared the path for construction to begin on the $2 billion Southwest Light Rail Transit Project that will run between suburban Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and North Minneapolis.

The FTA granted the regional Metropolitan Council a Letter of No Prejudice, which makes early construction work on the project eligible for federal reimbursement once the Full Funding Grant Agreement is issued in 2019.

With the full funding agreement, the federal government would pay $929 million of the project’s total cost. The Letter of No Prejudice means that the Metropolitan Council can move forward with awarding a construction contract and begin mobilizing for construction.

The southwest light rail extension is a 14.5-mile-long line with 16 stations serving Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie.

Earlier in 2018, the Council received two construction contract bids. It asked on two occasions for the bidders to extend their bid validity. The bids were from apparent low bidder Lunda/C.S. McCrossan ($799,514,338) and Ames/Kraemer ($812,125,583). Ames/Kraemer did not respond to the final extension request.

As part of the project approval process, Hennepin County and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority are expected to consider approving a grant agreement for $435 million to provide funding for early construction activities.

Early construction activities could include staffing and equipment mobilization, site clearance, demolition and utility work. Heavy construction would occur in 2019-2022, with testing of the system with new light rail vehicles anticipated in 2022-2023. Passenger service is slated to start in 2023 as an extension of the METRO Green Line.