Public Involvement

The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) published the Southwest Transitway Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on October 11, 2012. HCRRA, which served as the project sponsor and Responsible Governmental Unit during preparation of the Draft EIS, hosted three public hearings in November 2012 to receive comments on the document. The purpose of these hearings was to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the content of the Draft EIS document; no action was taken at the hearings.

Freight, Water, and Landscape Studies

In January 2014, the Metropolitan Council hosted facilitated public community meetings focused on studies of freight rail, water resources and landscaping/greenscaping in the Kenilworth area of Minneapolis. 

In February 2014, the Metropolitan Council hosted public community meetings focused on the independent consultants' draft reports on freight rail location alternatives, water resources and landscaping/greenscaping in the Kenilworth area.

Municipal Consent Hearings (2014)

Municipal consent is process of local review and approval by communities affected by a transit project, and is required under Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 473.3994). During municipal consent, the public is also invited to review preliminary design plans and provide comments directly to local governments or to the Metropolitan Council. The Southwest LRT Project received municipal consent approval twice: once in 2014, and again in 2015 for a revised project scope including design changes in several areas along the LRT route.

The Metropolitan Council released preliminary design plans for the Southwest LRT Project on April 22, 2014. The Metropolitan Council and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) held a joint public hearing on May 29, 2014. Minnetonka, Hopkins, Eden Prairie, and St. Louis Park held public hearings on municipal consent for Southwest LRT in May and June 2014.

The Metropolitan Council approved revisions to the project scope and budget affecting the Minneapolis portion of the Southwest LRT Project on July 9, 2014. The Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County Board of Commissioners and Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) held a joint hearing on August 13, 2014 to consider revised preliminary design plans. Minneapolis held a public hearing on municipal consent for the revised plans on August 19, 2014. The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners granted municipal consent for the Southwest LRT Project at a special board meeting on August 29, 2014.

Station Design

The Southwest LRT Project developed several different station architecture concepts to fit into different settings. These open houses provided an opportunity for community residents to learn about station design and give feedback to project staff. A brief presentation on station design was given at the beginning of each open house.

Open houses were held on the following dates:

• Minneapolis: April 2 and April 8, 2015
• St. Louis Park: April 8, 2015
• Eden Prairie: April 9, 2015
• Hopkins and Minnetonka: April 14, 2015

Kenilworth Landscape Design

Plans for landscape design in the Kenilworth area of Minneapolis were created with input from the community and guidance from the Kenilworth Landscape Design Committee.

Meeting materials from Kenilworth Landscape Design Committee meetings are listed below.

Supplemental Draft EIS Hearings

The Metropolitan Council published the Southwest LRT Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on May 22, 2015 and held three public hearings to receive comments on the document in June 2015. An open house was held in conjunction with each public hearing. The purpose of these hearings was to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the content of the Supplemental Draft EIS document; no action was taken at the hearings.

Hearing Dates and Locations

• Hopkins Center for the Arts, June 16, 2015
• Eden Prairie City Center, June 17, 2015
• Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis), June 18, 2015

Municipal Consent Hearings (2015)

Municipal consent is process of local review and approval by communities affected by a transit project, and is required under Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 473.3994). During municipal consent, the public is also invited to review preliminary design plans and provide comments directly to local governments or to the Metropolitan Council. The Southwest LRT Project received municipal consent approval twice: once in 2014, and again in 2015 for a revised project scope including design changes in several areas along the LRT route.

In July 2015, the Metropolitan Council approved a revised scope for the Southwest LRT project, reducing the estimated cost of the project by approximately $250 million. The revised project scope included design changes in several areas along the proposed LRT route. In light of these changes, the Council released revised preliminary design plans on July 23, 2015 and sought municipal consent from Hennepin County and the five cities along the proposed LRT route.

The Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County Board of Commissioners and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) held a joint public hearing on the physical design component of the revised preliminary design plans on August 27, 2015. Cities along the proposed Southwest LRT route held public hearings in September 2015. The Council accepted public comments on the revised plans from July 23 through September 11, 2015. Comments were also accepted by Hennepin County and the cities along the alignment.

Proposed Freight Rail Corridor Protection Wall

Public Open House
November 15, 2017, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Bryn Mawr Elementary School Cafeteria, 252 Upton Avenue South, Minneapolis

An opportunity to learn about the design of the proposed corridor protection wall between freight rail and light rail tracks in Minneapolis, and give input on aesthetic design options. Printable event flyer [PDF].

Community Town Hall Meeting on the Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Amended Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation

The Metropolitan Council hosted a community town hall meeting on the Southwest LRT Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) and Amended Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation on March 22, 2018 at Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis. This event provided an opportunity to learn about the impacts of changes in the design of the Southwest LRT Project since the completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement in 2016, including the proposed construction of a freight rail corridor protection barrier in Minneapolis, and to give feedback.

The community town hall meeting materials are available as PDF documents:

• Presentation [1MB]
• Display Boards [33MB]

Community Open Houses

Come to a community open house to learn about 2019 construction activities and what to expect. Metropolitan Council project staff will be on hand to answer questions. View open house flyer (PDF).  Construction Information (PDF)

Open house: 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Presentation: 6:00 pm

ST. LOUIS PARK

Tuesday, July 16
St. Louis Park City Hall, Council Chambers 5005 Minnetonka Boulevard
Display Boards (PDF)

EDEN PRAIRIE

Thursday, July 18
Eden Prairie City Center, Heritage Room 8080 Mitchell Road
Display Boards (PDF)

MINNETONKA

Monday, July 22
Eagle Ridge Academy Cafeteria,  11111 Bren Road West
Display Boards (PDF)

HOPKINS

Thursday, July 25
Hopkins Depot, Railroad Room 9451 Excelsior Boulevard
Display Boards (PDF)

MINNEAPOLIS

Tuesday, July 23
Bryn Mawr Elementary School, Cafeteria 252 Upton Avenue South
Display Boards (PDF)