Cost of Blue Line light rail extension increases by $500M

The Metropolitan Council officials announced Thursday a $500 million price increase in the proposed Blue Line light rail extension project.

The 13-mile line would extend from Target Field to the northwest Minneapolis suburbs. The project is expected to cost $1.48 billion.

Met Council Chair Adam Duininck says he doesn't expect costs to continue to rise like they did for the Southwest Light Rail project.

"I think there are two big differences," Duininck said. "There's a number of unresolved issues for a longer period of time in Southwest like where the operational maintenance facility was going to be and where the end of the line would be and those drove some costs later in the process."

Duininck attributes the cost increase of the Blue Line extension to inflation and a better understanding of the plan. The updated scope includes information on freight traffic, floodplain impact and new bridges.