Bottineau light rail wins critical Hennepin County funding

The Bottineau Blue Line light-rail project, which is slated to link Minneapolis to the northern suburbs, cleared another milestone Tuesday when a Hennepin County board agreed to fund nearly 10 percent of the $1.54 billion project.

The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority voted to grant up to $149.6 million for the line, which would connect downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park, traveling through Golden Valley, Robbinsdale and Crystal along the way. Service is expected to begin in 2021.

Beyond Hennepin County's contribution, the local 51 percent share of the Bottineau line's price tag would be funded through the Counties Transit Improvement Board, which levies a metro-area transit sales tax; the state of Minnesota; Brooklyn Park, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Once the local portion is nailed down, the Federal Transit Administration is expected to pay 49 percent of the project.

The lone dissenter on the Railroad Authority board Tuesday was Commissioner Jeff Johnson, who represents northwestern Hennepin County. He questioned whether building and operating light rail was cost-effective. Railroad Authority Chairman Peter McLaughlin said the 27,000 average weekday ridership expected for Bottineau "takes people off the roads."

The Transit Improvement Board is expected to vote on its 30 percent share ($463.7 million) later this month. It's still unclear whether the state would fund its commitment of $149.6 million, since legislators declined to pay for the Southwest light-rail line, stalling the project that would connect Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.

Transit planners hope a special session of the Legislature this month will provide some means for funding the state's share for both light-rail lines.

Janet Moore • 612-673-7752 @MooreStrib