Project Facts

About the Southwest LRT Project

Southwest LRT at a Glance
  • The approximately 14.5-mile route (PDF) will serve the growing communities of Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie.
  • 16 new stations with connections to streets and trails will be built, attracting new residential and commercial development.
  • Service will begin in 2023 as an extension of the METRO Green Line.
  • In 2014, there were approximately 64,300 jobs within ½ mile of the proposed stations and 126,800 jobs in downtown Minneapolis.  By 2035, employment is expected to grow to 80,900 within ½ mile of the proposed stations and 145,300 in downtown Minneapolis – a 18% increase in employment.
  • In 2014, there were about 35,800 people within ½ mile of the proposed stations and 16,400 residents with access to the 5 shared stations in downtown Minneapolis.  By 2035, the population within ½ mile of the proposed stations is expected to grow by 56 percent to 55,800, and the population of downtown Minneapolis is expected to grow by 117 percent increase to 35,600.
  • The total project budget is $2.003 billion, funded by a combination of federal, county, state and local sources.
  • Construction began in 2019.
  • An estimated 7,500 construction workers will be needed to build the line, with $350 million estimated construction payroll.
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