The following article by Janet Moore was published in the September 26, 2015 issue of the Star Tribune. The three council members who voted against the SWLRT design were Council President Barb Johnson and Council Members Lisa Goodman and Cam Gordon.
A light-rail train in the Twin Cities.
The $1.77 billion Southwest light-rail line cleared an important hurdle Friday, winning approval for a second time from Minneapolis. But legal opposition and stubborn budget challenges continue to dog the most expensive transit project in state history.
The Minneapolis City Council voted 10-3 to approve the project, which is slated to connect downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. A second vote was required after a budget crisis last spring pushed the cost of the 14.5-mile line to nearly $2 billion, causing the Metropolitan Council to pare two stations in Eden Prairie and other amenities.
