The Metropolitan Council and local leaders are expected to give an update on the long-delayed Southwest Light Rail project after the Green Line extension successfully completed its first week of testing earlier this month. The press conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., with FOX 9 set to stream it live. This update comes as a major milestone for a project that has faced years of setbacks, growing costs, and political controversy.
The Southwest Light Rail Transit project, also known as the Green Line extension, will eventually connect downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, passing through St. Louis Park, Hopkins, and Minnetonka. Once completed, the new route is expected to improve public transportation between the city and the southwestern suburbs, giving commuters and residents a faster, more convenient option to travel without relying on cars.
Construction on the project began years ago, with high hopes for boosting local transit and supporting regional growth. However, the journey to completion has been anything but smooth. The line was initially supposed to open in 2023, but repeated construction delays, engineering challenges, and budget issues pushed the timeline back several times. Officials now expect the light rail to start service in 2027—four years later than planned.
The project’s cost has also ballooned far beyond expectations. Originally budgeted at around $2 billion, it’s now more than $1.6 billion over that amount, putting the total cost at over $3.6 billion. The overruns have made the Southwest Light Rail one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in Minnesota’s history.
The financial and logistical problems have drawn sharp criticism from both residents and state lawmakers. Many homeowners along the route have complained about disruptions caused by the construction, while Republican legislators have repeatedly questioned the Metropolitan Council’s management of the project. In 2024, GOP lawmakers even proposed a bill to stop the Met Council from starting any new light rail projects until it could show accountability and better project oversight.
A series of state audits have also exposed deep flaws in how the council handled the massive undertaking. A 2023 audit revealed that the Met Council failed to hold contractors accountable for delays and budget overruns. Another audit earlier this year found inconsistent rules for evaluating cost changes and highlighted several accounting problems. These reports intensified public concern and led to renewed calls for transparency and reform within the agency.
Despite the setbacks, the recent start of testing marks a turning point for the long-awaited Green Line extension. The initial runs are being used to check the safety and reliability of the system before it eventually opens to the public. Transportation officials have said that while challenges remain, they are committed to seeing the project through and ensuring the new line operates efficiently once it begins service.
Supporters of the project argue that once complete, the Southwest Light Rail will provide major benefits to the Twin Cities metro area. They say it will help ease traffic congestion, create new job opportunities, and attract economic growth along its corridor. Environmental advocates also see the project as an important step toward reducing carbon emissions by offering a cleaner alternative to driving.
For now, the focus remains on completing construction and resolving the remaining issues before the 2027 launch. As testing continues and public attention grows, the Metropolitan Council faces pressure to restore trust and deliver a project that has been years in the making—and one that many hope will finally live up to its promise.
