Light Rail Comes To The Twin Cities... Finally

After two decades of study and contention, the Twin Cities are gettinglight rail.

1 minute read

January 17, 2001, 7:30 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


The way has been cleared for a federal funding agreement to besignedand a groundbreaking ceremony to be held this week. According to theStarTribune of Minneapolis and St. Paul, if Congress didn't sign off on theproject by January 31, state funding for the project would have beenrevokedand the project would have collapsed. After years of debate over whetherandwhere to build the line, support gathered around the Hiawatha Line in1998when the Minnesota legislature agreed to help pay for the route. Thenextchallenge will be to build the line on time within its $675 millionbudget.Contracts for construction and rolling stock will be activated as soonasthe Federal Transit Administration signs the full funding grantagreementcommitting $334 million to the project. The Met Council, the regionalplanning agency for the seven-county Twin Cities area, will own the railline, and Metro Transit will run it.

Thanks to Dateline APA

Tuesday, January 16, 2001 in Star Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Public Market sign over Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington with pop-up booths on street.

Seattle’s Pike Place Market Leans Into Pedestrian Infrastructure

After decades of debate, the market is testing a car ban in one of its busiest areas and adding walking links to the surrounding neighborhood.

May 15 - Cascade PBS

Yellow and silver light rain train in downtown Long Beach, California.

The World’s Longest Light Rail Line is in… Los Angeles?

In a city not known for its public transit, the 48.5-mile A Line is the longest of its kind on the planet.

May 15 - Secret Los Angeles

Man reaching for young girl sliding down playground slide.

Quantifying Social Infrastructure

New developments have clear rules for ensuring surrounding roads, water, and sewers can handle new users. Why not do the same for community amenities?

May 15 - Happy Cities