Central Corridor in a nutshell
A brief summary of the Central Corridor light rail line project.
WHAT: An 11-mile light-rail transit line connecting St. Paul to Minneapolis, which runs primarily along University Ave.
STATIONS: 18 new stations, plus five stations shared with the Hiawatha line in downtown Minneapolis.
SERVICE: Trains will operate every 7½ minutes during peak travel periods, with a travel time of 40 minutes between Union Depot in downtown St. Paul and Target Field Station in downtown Minneapolis.
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PROJECTED WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP: More than 40,000 by 2030. In contrast, the Hiawatha line served an average of 29,800 riders on weekdays last year.
COST: $957 million.
FUNDING: The federal government is expected to pay half the construction cost. The Counties Transit Improvement Board, which comprises five metro counties, will pay 30 percent. The state, 10 percent; Ramsey County, 7 percent; and Hennepin County, 3 percent.
SCHEDULE: Heavy construction is expected to begin in August. Trains would be up and running by 2014.
(Source: Metropolitan Council)