The Metropolitan Council is constructing the METRO Green Line Extension, also known as Southwest LRT, which extends the existing Green Line from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.

The MPRB maintains two bike/pedestrian trails that close for two to three years for project construction, starting in May, 2019: The Cedar Lake Regional Trail and the Kenilworth Trail. The trails are on land owned by the Metropolitan Council. Detour signage notifies trail users of alternative routes and detailed detour maps are available on the SWLRT project page.

The MPRB owns parkland where the Southwest LRT corridor crosses the Kenilworth channel between Cedar Lake Park and Lake of the Isles Park, which will not be impacted during construction of the SWLRT. For more information, see the “Background and Timeline” section.

To get additional information, including detour maps, and to sign up for Southwest LRT Construction activity updates, visit the Metropolitan Council’s Southwest LRT project page.

 

Project Location

Downtown Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie (approximately 14.5 miles)

Location Map

Project Contact

David Davies
SWLRT Community Outreach Coordinator
Phone: 612.373.5336
Email: David.Davies@metrotransit.org

Background and Timeline

As stewards of all park assets in Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has a fundamental responsibility to protect parkland. It has also consistently and regularly communicated its support of light rail transit and its position regarding options for the Southwest LRT route as it impacts parkland. After the route was established in 2010, MPRB worked with Southwest LRT officials and other government agencies to come to an agreement on parkland impacts of the transit corridor at the Kenilworth channel between Cedar Lake Park and Lake of the Isles Park. In 2014-15, the MPRB hired experts to investigate options and costs for the Southwest LRT segment that crosses this parkland. All resolutions, presentations and news releases related to this issue are available below.

July 15, 2015

  • Board Action – Resolution 2015-254
    • Resolution Approving the Comment Letter to Metropolitan Council for the Southwest Light Rail Transit Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement

March 4, 2015

  • Board Action – Resolution 2015-139
    • Resolution Determining that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Will Not Pursue Tunnel Crossing Options for the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) Project; Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Metropolitan Council that 1) Establishes a Process that Recognizes Parks and Park Resources in the Transit Project Development Process, 2) Outlines a Process for Collaboration Between the Southwest Project Office and MPRB on Design of Bridge Crossings at the Kenilworth Channel, and 3) Results in an Agreement Between the Metropolitan Council and the MPRB to Facilitate Approval and Construction of the SWLRT Project; and Authorizing the Superintendent to Initiate Agreements with Metropolitan Council to Reimburse the MPRB for Costs Related to Its Work on the SWLRT Project and the Blue Line Light Rail Transit Extension (Bottineau) Project

February 27, 2015

January 27, 2015

January 13, 2015

January 7, 2015 – Regular Meeting

  • Board Action – Resolution 2015-106
    • Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Brierley Associates for Engineering Services Related to the Feasibility and Prudence of Kenilworth Channel Crossing Alternatives in the Amount of $248,275 for a New Contract Total of $493,775
  • Board Action – Resolution 2015-107
    • Resolution Approving a Letter Requesting a Meeting to Discuss Legal Jeopardy to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts Program Created by the Implementation of the Program for the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project in Minneapolis, Minnesota by the FTA and the Metropolitan Council

January 2, 2015

November 19, 2014 – Regular Meeting

  • Board Action – Resolution 2014-347
    • Resolution Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Brierley Associates for Engineering Services Related to the Feasibility and Prudence of Kenilworth Channel Crossing Alternatives in the Amount Up to $245,500

October 23, 2014

October 1, 2014 – Regular Meeting

  • Board Action – Discussion item
    • Presentation and Discussion on Stinson Leonard Street, LLP’s Legal Review and Recommendations for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Regarding the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project

September 17, 2014 – Regular Meeting

  • Board Action – Resolution 2014-293
    • Resolution Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Stinson Leonard Street, LLP for Legal Services Related to the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project in the Amount of $22,000

May 21, 2014 – Regular Meeting

  • Board Action – Resolution 2014-209
    • Resolution Stating the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Determination That, Based on Southwest Light Rail Transitway Project Office Preliminary Finding of Feasibility, Tunneling LRT Under the Kenilworth Channel May be the Only Section 4(F) Feasible and Prudent Alternative Within the Shallow Tunnel Option Regarding Minneapolis Parkland Impacted by the Project, However that Determination Requires Greater Analysis

February 5, 2014 – Regular Meeting

  • Board Action – Resolution 2014-114
    • Resolution Urging the Southwest Light Rail Transitway Project Office to Conduct a Detailed Engineering Feasibility Study and Cost Comparison of Tunneling Under the Kenilworth Channel  as Part of the Shallow Tunnel Option

August 21, 2013 – Regular Meeting

  • Board Action – Resolution 2013-282
    • Resolution Stating the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board’s Position on Project Design Alternatives Recently Developed in the Preliminary Engineering Phase of Southwest Light Rail Transitway Planning

May 2, 2013 – Open House

December 5, 2012

November 26, 2012 – CAC Meeting

November 15, 2012

November 9, 2012

October 26, 2012

October 23, 2012 – CAC Meeting

September 6, 2012 – CAC Meeting

August 6, 2012 – CAC Meeting

2011

September 27, 2011

May 17, 2011

March 17, 2011 – CAC Meeting

January 20, 2011 – CAC Meeting

December 16, 2010 – CAC Meeting

December 2, 2010 – CAC Meeting

November 18, 2010 – CAC Meeting

November 4, 2010 – CAC Meeting

October 14, 2010 – CAC Meeting

September 23, 2010 – CAC Meeting

September 10, 2010

  • MPRB convenes CAC to review Southwest LRT in relation to parkland

August 13, 2010

  • CAC to help develop recommendations regarding Southwest LRT and parkland

July 21, 2010

  • Charge and composition of the SW LRT CAC – Regular Meeting Minutes [PDF]
  • Staff Report [PDF]
  • September 1, 2010 – Revised CAC Charge – Regular Meeting Minutes – not yet posted online

January 2010

2006

  • Bassett Creek Valley Master Plan

May 2004

  • Minneapolis Near Northside Master Plan

October 2000

April 1998

December 1997

July 1997