Metropolitan Council Sets Public Hearing for April 12

March 2, 2010

The Metropolitan Council is holding a public hearing and taking public comments on amending the region's long-range Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) to include the Southwest LRT locally preferred alternative, referred to as LRT 3A or the Kenilworth-Opus-Golden Triangle alignment.  The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority recommended LRT 3A as the locally preferred alternative (LPA) in November.

The public hearing will be held at 5 p.m. on April 12, 2010, at the Metropolitan Council offices at 390 Robert Street N. in St. Paul map.  For more information about the hearing process and schedule, click here.

Public comments can be made by email, mail, phone, or fax by following the steps on the Metropolitan Council's website.  The public comment period closes on April 22, 2010.

The Metropolitan Council is scheduled to formally amend the TPP at its meeting on May 12, 2010, completing the LPA selection process for the Southwest Transitway.
 

RFP Available: Southwest Station Area Planning-Minneapolis 

February 12, 2010

The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA), in cooperation with the City of Minneapolis, is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of Strategic Plans for the five proposed Minneapolis stations along the proposed locally preferred alternative for the Southwest Light Rail Transit line: Royalston, Van White, Penn, 21st Street, and West Lake.  This work is considered to be part of the project development process not the environmental process for the Southwest LRT line.

Download the RFP here.
Download the Appendix to the RFP here.
Download maps of the Minneapolis station areas here.

Notice of intent to propose and questions about the study must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT), Wednesday, February 24, 2010. Please note that HCRRA will be conferring with Metropolitan Council staff before responding to questions.
Proposals must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT), Friday, March 12, 2010.  The HCRRA reserves the right to reject late responses.

Complete details regarding submission requirements are included within the Request for Proposal.

Metropolitan Council to take Action on Southwest Locally Preferred Alternative

January 8, 2010

In 2010 the Metropolitan Council will finalize the locally preferred alternative (LPA) selection process for the Southwest Transitway by amending the regional Transportation Policy Plan (TPP). 

The TPP amendment process will begin with a briefing on the Southwest Transitway to the Metropolitan Council Committee of the Whole on Wednesday, January 20.  Council members will have approximately one month to review background information on the Southwest Transitway before they meet again on Wednesday, February 24, to select the LPA, open the amendment to public comment, and set a public hearing on the amendment.

The public hearing is tentatively set for Monday, April 12, and the public comment period will end on Thursday, April 22.  The Council will meet on Wednesday, May 12, to formally amend the TPP, completing the LPA selection process for the Southwest Transitway

In sum:

• January 20, 2010 -- Metropolitan Council Committee of the Whole meeting: briefing on Southwest LRT project development and planning to date.
• February 24, 2010 -- Metropolitan Council Committee of the Whole meeting: LPA selection, public comment period open, public hearing set.
• April 12, 2010 -- Public Hearing on Transportation Policy Plan amendment (date is tentative).
• April 22, 2010 -- Public comment period closed.
• May 12, 2010 -- Metropolitan Council Committee of the Whole meeting: Transportation Policy Plan amended to include the Southwest Transitway LPA.

Meeting times and locations can be found on the Metropolitan Council’s website.

Questions on the TPP amendment process can be directed to the Metropolitan Council at 651-602-1000. www.metrocouncil.org

Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority Recommends Southwest LRT 3A

November 4, 2009

The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) voted on the Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project’s Locally Preferred Alternative on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. The HCRRA unanimously voted to recommend LRT 3A to the Metropolitan Council for inclusion in its 2030 Transportation Plan.  The agenda, minutes, and video from the meeting are available here.

Southwest Policy Advisory Committee Recommends LRT 3A

October 14, 2009

On October 14, 2009, the Southwest Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) voted to accept the Technical Advisory Committee’s recommendation that LRT 3A be identified as the locally preferred alternative (LPA) for the Southwest LRT project, and that this recommendation be forwarded to the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority. Click here for the PAC Resolution Recommending the LPA for the Southwest Light Rail Line.

Southwest LRT Project Receives $5 million in state bonding

September, 2009

The Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is slated to receive $5 million in state bonding allocated by the Metropolitan Council for transit improvement.  The bonding is necessary for environmental and preliminary engineering work, allowing the project to move forward for federal New Starts funding.

Southwest LRT Public Hearing October 20, 2009

October 8, 2009

The Southwest Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) is expected to make a recommendation on the locally preferred alternative at their October 14 meeting.
The PAC will consider the recommendation of the Technical Advisory Committee, as well as the comments and concerns raised at the September 17 public
hearing, (click here for a transcript of the hearing) and additional input from residents, neighborhood associations, cities, and community organizations.
The PAC recommendation will be passed on to the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA), who will hold a public hearing:
     Tuesday, October 20 at 4:00 pm
     A-2400 Hennepin County Government Center
     300 South 6th Street Minneapolis, MN 55415 map
To sign up to testify email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; sign up will also be available at the hearing. Comments will be limited to three minutes in length.

Southwest Technical Advisory Committee Recommends LRT 3A
Southwest LRT Public Hearing September 17 

September 10, 2009 

The Southwest Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), composed of planning and engineering staff from each city along the LRT line, as well as representatives from the Metropolitan Council and local agencies, met this morning to recommend a preliminary locally preferred alternative (LPA) for the Southwest Transitway.  The TAC recommended the LRT 3A alternative (click here for a map of alternatives), which follows the Kenilworth Corridor through Minneapolis, continutes on Hennepin County-owned right-of-way through St. Louis Park and Hopkins, and runs on new right-of-way through the commercial centers of Minnetonka and Eden Prairie.  The TAC recommendation is now passed on to the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), which will consider the recommendation along with input from the public. Click here for the LPA Report draft currently under review by the TAC.

Interested members of the public are encouraged to testify on the Southwest light rail project at a public hearing held by the Southwest PAC.
          Thursday, September 17 at 6:30 pm
          Eisenhower Community Center
          1001 Highway 7 Hopkins, MN 55305 map
To sign up to testify email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; sign up will also be available at the hearing.  Speakers are asked to keep their comments to three minutes in length.

The PAC is composed of elected officials from Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, and Hennepin County, along with agency and business chamber representatives from along the corridor.  Click here to see who represents your interests on the PAC.

The PAC is expected to make a decision on the locally preferred alternative at their October 14 meeting.  The PAC recommendation will be passed on to the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA), who will hold a second public hearing on Tuesday, October 20, before taking action on Tuesday, November 3.  Please see our meetings and events page for PAC and HCRRA meeting information.

Preliminary Evaluation Measures Released

August 12, 2009

Preliminary ridership and cost estimates for each alternative, along with other evaluation measures such as critical environmental resources, implementation, and planning compatibility, were presented to the Southwest Transitway Policy Advisory Committee this Monday.  The presentation is available here.  Click here to see who represents your interests on the PAC; click here to see a time line of upcoming Southwest LRT meetings and decisions.

Attend a Southwest Transitway Open House!

Attend an open house to learn about the proposed Southwest Light Rail Project and to see growth plans for the areas around light rail stations (suburban stations only at this time).

Tuesday, August 11 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Station Area Planning Presentation at 7:00 PM
Hopkins City Hall
1010 1st Street S. Hopkins, MN 55343 map
Did you miss this meeting?
     See the Locally Preferred Alternative Evaluation Boards here
     See the Station Area Planning Presentation here
     See the Blake Road Station Handout here
     See the Downtown Hopkins Station Handout here
     See the Shady Oak Station Handout here

Thursday, August 13 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Downtown Minneapolis Library
300 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55401 map
Did you miss this meeting?
     See the Locally Preferred Alternative Evaluation Boards here

Thursday, August 13 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Station Area Planning Presentation at 7:00 PM
Marriott Southwest Hotel in Minnetonka
5801 Opus Parkway Minnetonka, MN 55343 map
Did you miss this meeting?
     See the Locally Preferred Alternative Evaluation Boardshere
     See the Station Area Planning Presentation here
     See the Shady Oak Station Handout here
     See the Opus Station Handout here

Tuesday, August 18 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Station Area Planning Presentation at 7:00 PM
St. Louis Park City Hall
5005 Minnetonka Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416 map
Did you miss this meeting?
     See the Locally Preferred Alternative Evaluation Boards here
     See the Station Area Planning Presentation here
     See the Beltline Station here
     See the Wooddale Station Handout here
     See the Louisiana Station Handout here

Wednesday, August 19 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Station Area Planning Presentation at 7:00 PM
Eden Prairie City Hall
8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 map
Did you miss this meeting?
     See the Locally Preferred Alternative Evaluation Boards here
     See the Station Area Planning Presentation here
     See the City West Station Handout here
     See the Golden Triangle Station Handout here
     See the Eden Prairie Town Center Station Handout here
     See the Southwest Station Handout here
     See the Mitchell Station Handout here

Thursday, September 17 6:30 PM
Southwest Policy Advisory Committee Public Hearing
Eisenhower Community Center
1001 Highway 7 Hopkins, MN 55305 map