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Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I voice my opinions regarding the Southwest LRT?
• Where will the LRT line go?
• Have other routes been considered?
• How will the Southwest LRT connect to the existing and future Twin Cities transit system?
• How many people will be expected to ride on the Southwest LRT?
• When can I ride the Southwest LRT train?
• How much will it cost to build and operate the Southwest LRT?
• How often will the trains run?
• If LRT is built what will happen to the trails?
• Who will design and build the Southwest LRT? Who will operate it?
• Who will pay for the construction of the Southwest LRT?

We want to hear from you. Your comments will be shared with local elected officials and will become part of the public record. Please submit your comments via email or mail to Southwest Corridor, Hennepin County Transit, 417 North 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401.

During the most recent phase of study, four alternatives were considered for the Southwest Transitway route, called the Locally Preferred Alternative:

• Route 1A: Downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie via the Kenilworth corridor and the HCRRA property.
• Route 3A: Downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie via the Kenilworth corridor and the Opus/Golden Triangle area.
• Route 3C (Nicollet Mall): Downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie via Nicollet Avenue, the Midtown corridor, and the Opus/Golden Triangle area.
• Route 3C-2 (11th/12th St): Downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie via 11th/12th Streets, Nicollet Avenue, the Midtown Corridor, and the Opus/Golden Triangle area.

In November, 2009, the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority recommended Route 3A as the Southwest Transitway Locally Preferred Alternative.  The recommendation has been forwarded to the Metropolitan Council for inclusion in the regional Transportation Policy Plan in 2010. Yes. The first studies of the Southwest LRT line occurred in the mid-1980s.  More recent studies occurred in 2002 with the Southwest Rail Transit Feasibility Study and in 2007 with the Southwest Alternatives Analysis (AA).  Through these studies, more than 20 routing options have been considered to serve the southwest metro area with a high-frequency, high-amenity transit line.
Description of Alternatives The Southwest LRT line will connect to other rail lines (Hiawatha, Central, Northstar) and high-frequency bus routes in downtown Minneapolis, providing access to the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, Mall of America, the State Capitol, and downtown St. Paul.  The Southwest LRT line will serve the Intermodal Station in downtown Minneapolis, where Hiawatha, Central, and Northstar lines will converge.
Click here to see a map of planned and existing transitways in the Twin Cities region. Depending upon the route selected, there will be an estimated 24,000 to 30,000 rides per day by year 2030, which is comparable to current ridership on the Hiawatha LRT line. At this time, the Southwest LRT is projected to open in 2017, though project schedule depends on securing federal and local funds. Capital Costs in 2015 dollars are estimated at: $865 million - $1.4 billion.
Operating Costs in 2015 dollars: $12 - 17 million.

Service will be same as on the Hiawatha LRT - every 7 1/2 minutes during peak times (6-9:45am and 3-7:15pm), every 10 minutes during midday and evenings, and every 30 minutes from 4-6am and 9pm-1am. Southwest LRT trains will run 20 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Hennepin County and its partners are committed to ensuring that a connected system of trails is retained throughout the southwest metro area.  Currently, there are four trails that may be affected by a Southwest LRT line. They are the Southwest LRT trail, the Kenilworth trail, the Cedar Lake Park trail, and the Midtown Greenway. These trails are all located on property owned by the HCRRA. The existing walking and biking trails will be maintained; there is plenty of space for light rail and the existing trails. Currently, rails and trails safely coexist in more than 60 areas of the United States. In the Twin Cities region, the Metropolitan Council/Metro Transit is the lead agency in the designing and building of transitways, including light rail, commuter rail, and busways. Metro Transit currently operates the Hiawatha line and will operate the Central Corridor and the Southwest LRT. At this time, it is assumed that Southwest LRT funding for capital costs will come from four sources: the transit sales tax in the metro area (30 percent), the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (10 percent), the State of Minnesota (10 percent), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) (up to 50 percent).