Metropolitan Council To Discuss Cuts To SWLRT Line

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Metropolitan Council is set to meet again Wednesday morning to go over ways to shrink the cost of the proposed Southwest Light Rail project.

Reductions must be made after a recent estimate put the price tag at $2 billion, roughly 25 percent more than expected.

Close to $350 million must be chopped from the price tag.

Things like artwork, landscaping, and park-and-ride lots are expected to be among the first items on the chopping block, but some stations along the line may also need to be removed from the plans.

A final vote on what will be cut will come in two weeks.