ST. PAUL – Feb. 3, 2011 – The Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Project is poised to create at least 3,400 jobs now that the federal government has forwarded the Full Funding Grant Agreement to Congress.
A 60-day courtesy review will occur prior to execution, when an FFGA will commit the federal government to half of the $957 million project cost. The project already has spent $145 million for design, property and construction.
Federal Transit Administration execution expected in April would allow the realization of 30 years of planning to unite St. Paul and Minneapolis by light rail,” Metropolitan Council Chair Susan Haigh said. It would come 10 years after the FFGA on the first line, the Hiawatha LRT line, was executed. Central Corridor’s ridership is projected to be even higher, with 41,000 average weekday boardings expected by 2030.
The largest public works project in state history will require at least 800 construction and management jobs a year through 2013. There will be many other jobs created, such as precast and ready-mix concrete jobs, shop labor, etc. More than 600 job seekers already have registered their construction qualifications with www.LRTWorks.org, a website created last year by the Metropolitan Council and funded by the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative. The website’s purpose is to help contractors meet goals to hire minorities and women. Another 150 jobs will be created when the operations hub opens in a rehabbed building in Lowertown St. Paul.
With support of both past and present federal and state administrations for the Central Corridor FFGA, the Met Council awarded the major construction contracts last year and began work after receiving sufficient advance funding commitments from local funding partners, creating 571 jobs.
The 3,400 jobs would be for engineering, construction, management and operations personnel.
About the Central Corridor LRT Project: The Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Project will link downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis along Washington and University avenues via the state Capitol and University of Minnesota. Construction began in 2010 on the planned 11-mile Central Corridor line, and service will begin in 2014. The line will connect with the Hiawatha LRT line at the Metrodome station in Minneapolis and the Northstar commuter rail line at the new Target Field Station. The Metropolitan Council would be the grantee of federal funds. The regional government agency is charged with building the line in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The Central Corridor Management Committee, which includes the mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis, commissioners from Ramsey and Hennepin counties and the University of Minnesota, provides advice and oversight. Funding is provided by the Federal Transit Administration, Counties Transit Improvement Board, state of Minnesota, Ramsey and Hennepin counties’ regional railroad authorities, city of St. Paul, Metropolitan Council and the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative.
Contacts
Laura Baenen
Communications Manager
Central Corridor LRT Project
Metropolitan Council
651-602-1797 office
612-269-4365 cell
[email protected]
Steven Dornfeld
Public Affairs Director
Metropolitan Council
651-602-1518
[email protected]