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 is a historic, monumental disaster,” said Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson), chair of the Senate’s Transportation Committee. “It’s years behind schedule, massively over budget, and it is still isn’t even projected to open until 2027. The fact is that we have no idea what the final price tag will end up being, and there seems to be very little oversight of where our dollars are going. The project has been bungled from the start. It’s time to get it under control.”

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.