Met Council Says Cost Of SWLRT Has Risen By $19 Million

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Metropolitan Council says the price to build the Southwest Light Rail has gone up $19 million because of inaction by lawmakers.

The rail line will run from Minneapolis through St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie.

The Met Council says since light rail funding was not secured during the legislative session, the project has stalled and costs are rising each day.

Last month, Gov. Mark Dayton and House Speaker Kurt Daudt said they were close to calling a special session, but needed to hammer out more details.

They had hoped to call the session for next week, but so far, lawmakers have not been called back to the capitol.

The Met Council says taxpayers in that area will have to pick up the additional costs.