Transportation committee calls for review of Southwest Light Rail project

The legislative auditor could be digging into reasons for cost overruns and delays of the Southwest Light Rail Transit project.

The House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee approved without dissent HF3035, as amended, calling for a special review.  

Such a review is unusual, but not unprecedented, said Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls), the bill sponsor and chair of the committee.

“We did feel a special review is needed given the cost overruns, the amount of the overruns, the fact that there was no clear idea what was causing those or that there is a start date for the project,” Hornstein said.

The passenger light rail line, spanning 14 miles between downtown Minneapolis and Eden Prairie, was expected to open in 2023 and cost about $2 billion to build. But the opening has been pushed back until 2027 and project costs could be more than $500 million over budget. The project is being managed by the Metropolitan Council.

Sent to the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee, the bill directs the legislative auditor’s office to examine the main reasons for the costs and delays, and whether the Metropolitan Council properly scrutinized the route and design, cost estimates, management and hiring practices and change orders.

The legislation would appropriate $200,000 for the review, as the auditor’s office will likely need outside expertise.

A companion bill, SF2676, is sponsored by Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls) and awaits action by the Senate Finance Committee.