Senator Mike Goggin (R-Red Wing) and the Minnesota Senate today unanimously voted to audit the beleaguered Southwest Light Rail project, which is years behind schedule and hundreds of millions of dollars over budget with no end in sight. The project is also under investigation for causing damage to nearby buildings. 

“Southwest Light Rail has been a mess from the beginning,” Goggin said. “It’s massively over budget and years behind schedule, and things don’t appear to be turning around any time soon. We have a duty to audit this project and figure out where the money is going. I’m glad there was such overwhelming bipartisan support.”

A Senate amendment to the bill increases reporting and accountability, requiring the Metropolitan Council to notify the Legislature whenever the project is expected to be delayed by 6 months or more, or total costs are expected to increase by 5%.  

The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 129-1 on March 3. With the Amendment, the House can either concur with the change or move the bill to a Conference Committee to work out the differences.