FTA gives green light to start engineering on Central Corridor light rail project

Contacts:
Steve Dornfeld, 651.602.1518
Bonnie Kollodge, 651.602.1357

ST. PAUL (Dec. 14, 2006) - The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has granted approval for the Metropolitan Council and its partners to begin preliminary engineering on the Central Corridor light rail transit project.

The FTA’s approval represents a significant step toward winning federal matching funds and building the 11-mile LRT line, which will run primarily along University Avenue between downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis. It will serve a projected weekday ridership of 38,100 by 2020 and 43,300 by 2030.

“Obtaining the FTA’s blessing was more than just a formality,” said Peter Bell, chair of the Metropolitan Council. “It came after a careful review of our project application, financial and management plans, during which we responded to literally hundreds of questions. In the eyes of the FTA, we clearly have a very viable project.”

During preliminary engineering, the Council and its project partners will finalize plans for station placement and design, refine the estimates of project costs, benefits and impacts, finalize management plans, and identify and commit local funding sources. The process will take about two years and complete about 60 percent of the design work.

If the project ultimately receives FTA approval to complete final design and obtains federal funding, construction of the line will begin in 2010, with operations beginning in 2014.

The proposed LRT line is part of the Council's 2030 plan for a network of rail and bus “transitways” to serve heavily traveled corridors in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. These transit investments are intended to improve mobility, build transit ridership and slow the growth in traffic congestion. The region’s first LRT line opened in the Hiawatha corridor in 2004 and exceeded pre-construction estimates by 58 percent in its first full year of operation.

“LRT along the Central Corridor has the potential to be an even bigger success than our Hiawatha line,” said Bell. “It will provide improved access to employment, educational and economic opportunities in the two downtowns, the University of Minnesota, the Midway district and the State Capitol complex. It also will support and encourage the revitalization already taking place all along University Avenue.”

As currently proposed, the $930 million line would have 16 new stations, plus five stations shared with the Hiawatha line in downtown Minneapolis. It would be served by 31 new LRT vehicles with trains operating every 7.5 minutes during peak travel periods, and a travel time of 35 minutes between the two downtowns.

However, Bell has warned that some proposed features of the line will have to change if the project is to meet the FTA’s cost-effectiveness requirements and win federal funds needed for construction. “During preliminary engineering, every facet of the project and every cost will have to be scrutinized very closely,” he said.

In the project, the Council is working closely with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and the University of Minnesota.

NOTE: More information on the Central Corridor project, including a map and timeline, is available at www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/centralcorridor.htm

The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Council runs the regional bus and light rail system, collects and treats wastewater, coordinates regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income families. The Council board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

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