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Met Council calls Green Line light rail testing major milestone
With one full week of Southwest Light Rail testing in the books, public officials are excited to be nearing the end of the long-delayed project, calling it a "major milestone." FOX 9's Rob Olson has the story.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - With one full week of Southwest Light Rail testing in the books, public officials are excited to be nearing the end of the long-delayed project, calling it a "major milestone."
But it will still be 2027 until they expect it to be in service.
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SWLRT track tests underway ahead of service
A light rail train connection nearly a decade in the making that has become the costliest public works project in the state’s history will see active trains on Tuesday as crews test the Green Line Extension/Southwest Light Rail tracks in preparation of full passenger service in 2027. FOX 9’s Lauren Andrego went live from one platform that will be open for riders.
"It does seem like a long time, but it is in line with federal standards," said Deb Barber, interim chair of the Metropolitan Council.
Thousands of tests
What we know:
Cars have been running along the Southwest Light Rail line, also known as the Green Line extension, for a full week. They’re not powered, but rather pushed and pulled by a rail tug, sometimes at very slow speeds.
The point is to carefully scrutinize the tracks and switches to make sure nothing is off, even by the tiniest amount.
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Met Council celebrates successful Southwest LRT tests
Met Council leaders gathered on Thursday to celebrate successful testing along the new Southwest Light Rail Transit route running from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.
But it’s not just the tracks. All the signage, signals and systems need the same scrutiny, which is why the testing phase is planned to go through 2026.
"There’s over 4,000 tests that have to occur to have, to show that it’s safe, it’s working the way it’s supposed to and meets all the standards," said Barber of the Met Council.
Money in, money out
How we got here:
Design work for the line, from Target Field to Eden Prairie, began in 2013. Construction began in late 2018.
Problems encountered during construction, particularly in the Kenilworth corridor and tunnel, pushed completion back by years and the price tag up to a controversial $2.86 billion.
But in announcing the testing milestone, officials involved in the project boasted it had already spurred more than $3 billion in development along the 14 1/2 miles.
"More than 8,500 housing units, many of which are affordable housing units, near the light rail stops," exclaimed Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene. "The building on this project has been like a carrot on the end of a stick, honestly. "Something that we knew we wanted, we knew we wanted as a region and as a state and here we are putting cars on the tracks and it’s tremendous to be here."
Safety first
What's next:
Metro Transit is now kicking off a safety campaign, reminding people that cars are now running the tracks, even if they’re slower and empty.
Testing will only ramp up through the next year, so be mindful at crossings as the cars keep rolling.
With the end in site, Hopkins Mayor Patrick Hanlon noted that his town originally sprouted up around an old passenger rail stop.
He has high hopes light rail, which has already led to new apartment construction, will only help Hopkins more.
"Ad as one mayor along this line, I want to say thank you to everyone here for making this opportunity happen for the people that are living in this community," Hanlon said.