Southwest Light Rail Transit

METRO Green Line Extension – Eden Prairie to Downtown Minneapolis

The Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) project (METRO Green Line Extension) will operate on a route from downtown Minneapolis through the communities of St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie, passing in close proximity to Edina. The line will include 16 new stations and will be part of an integrated system of transitways, including connections to the METRO Blue Line, the Northstar Commuter Rail line, many bus routes, and proposed future transitways. The total estimated project cost of $2.003 billion will be funded by a mix of federal, county, state and local sources, with federal funds making up approximately 46 percent of the total. At Target Field Station in Minneapolis, Green Line Extension trains will continue along the METRO Green Line, providing one-seat rides to the University of Minnesota, State Capitol area and downtown St. Paul. 

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Latest News


SWLRT gets critical approval from federal government to begin construction
11/14/2018
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) cleared the path for construction to begin on the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project (SWLRT). 

Archaeological survey at future SWLRT station focuses on late 1800s-early 1900s
9/27/2018
The area’s former residents, who were from Russia and other countries in Eastern Europe, left behind everyday items such as soup bones, beer bottles and buttons.

Archaeology firm formed by three college friends finishes SWLRT field work
9/27/2018
Toys, makeup, beer bottles and cutlery from more than a century ago are among artifacts recovered in a former Minneapolis Royalston neighborhood by In Situ Archaeological Consulting.

Light rail leader named top transit professional
9/14/2018
A leader in Metro Transit’s efforts to expand light rail in the Twin Cities has been recognized as one of the transit industry’s top young professionals.

Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, TC&W Railroad reach agreement to advance Southwest LRT
7/16/2018
Agreement helps clear the way to construct Minnesota’s largest public works project

Local Area Visualizations

 

These local area visualizations show features of the Green Line Extension including passenger stations, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and street intersections.

Eden Prairie Visualization

This visualization shows the design of METRO Green Line Extension's SouthWest Station, Golden Triangle Station, and City West Station. More visualizations are available in the Project Videos area.

Project Status

The Southwest LRT Project is currently in the Engineering phase of the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts funding process. All five cities along the proposed alignment and Hennepin County have approved preliminary design plans for Southwest LRT. Heavy construction is scheduled to take place between 2019 and 2022. The Project will begin passenger service as an extension of the METRO Green Line in 2023.