The cost of the Gold Line bus-rapid transit project in the east metro is increasing by about $70 million to $532 million, to provide for more parking and development along the 10-mile route.
The addition of a $58 million park-and-ride facility and Washington County service center at the Interstate 494 station in Woodbury, the line's eastern terminus, comes after the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requested more parking for the project. The FTA also required $13 million for a contingency fund, which may or may not be used.
The FTA is expected to pay 45% of the cost to build the line, a mostly dedicated bus lane along Interstate 94 connecting downtown St. Paul to Woodbury via Maplewood, Landfall and Oakdale. Passenger service is expected to begin in 2024.
On Tuesday, the Ramsey County Board and its railroad authority approved its share of the funding, which will not exceed $128 million or 24% of the project's total cost.
Washington County and a joint powers board for the project will consider the funding for the project later this month.
Last year, an FTA review of the project resulted in a "medium low" rating, which removed it from contention for critical federal funding.
Representatives from the Metropolitan Council, which will build and operate the line, worked with the FTA over the past year to allay its concerns, adding more parking at two of the line's four planned park-and-ride facilities.
At the I-494 station, 312 parking spots were added to complement the $40 million Washington County service center. The cost of the service center will be shared by the county, which will cover 55%, and the FTA.
