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The Central Corridor is a segment of the regional transit network that will link three of the greatest traffic generators in the region: downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, and downtown St. Paul. The Central Corridor light rail transit (LRT) line is an above ground train system that will run from downtown St. Paul, past the Minnesota State Capitol, along University Avenue, through the east and west banks of the University’s Twin Cities campus and connects with the Hiawatha line in downtown Minneapolis.
The Metropolitan Council is responsible for design and construction of the line. They are also heading up the Central Corridor project team in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, and the University of Minnesota. The University is advocating for the development of reasonable and creative solutions that will best serve students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the Twin Cities campus.
In 2006, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was prepared in coordination with the University. A DEIS is a public document prepared to provide information about the design, benefits, and costs of proposed transportation improvements. It also allows for the examination of social, economic, transportation, and environmental impacts that may result from the implementation of a project.
As currently proposed, the project has an estimated cost of $892 million. If approved, FTA will fund 50 percent of the capital costs. The other 50 percent will be paid with state and county funds: the metro county transit sales tax will provide $270 million, the state will provide $91 million, and Ramsey and Hennepin county will provide the remainder.
The University’s budget will not be affected by the cost of the Central Corridor line.
As the line moves into preliminary engineering, it is likely that the cost will have to be reduced to meet federal cost-effectiveness requirements. This means that every facet of the project will be scrutinized and that some features may be changed.
Get
on Board | 2007-08 | Route and station locations finalized, costs refined, and local funding sources identified and committed |
| 2008 | Federal Transit Administration (FTA) determines if project goes into final design |
| 2009 | FTA determines whether to approve a full funding grant agreement |
| 2010-13 | Construction |
| 2014 | Service on Central Corridor LRT begins |
