Green Line Extension to Eden Prairie, southwest Twin Cities begins operation June 2027
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
The Metro Transit Green Line Extension, also known as the Southwest light rail project, will start running trains on June 12, 2027.
The new route extension will include 16 stations from Target Field in Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, including stops in St. Louis Park, Hopkins and Minnetonka.
Metro Transit staff announced the opening date on Saturday at the new St. Louis Park stop on Louisiana Avenue.
The project has faced years of construction delays and cost overruns since breaking ground in 2018. Officials project the extension cost nearly $3 billion, up from the original $1.25 billion estimate when it was announced in 2013 and the $2 billion initial budget when ground officially broke in 2019.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Because the rising price tag has caused increased scrutiny, Hennepin County and Metropolitan Council officials say every dollar has been closely reviewed.
The Met Council says more than $3.1 billion in new housing and commercial development has been built or planned along the extended line.
St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed spoke at the reveal Saturday, and noted the community has already invested nearly $5 million in improvements around the station, including trail improvements, affordable housing and improving the Beltline Pedestrian Bridge.
She shared how public transportation had a direct impact on her education.
“I had to get on three busses when I was in college. Three busses to get to the Metropolitan University, and like two busses to get to U of M,” Mohamed said. “We know here in the suburbs, we rely heavily on cars, so before we start moving away from cars, we have to provide them with other means of transportation.”
Theresa Johnson was among the large crowd that gathered for the announcement. She’s a resident of Minneapolis, and she gets around the Twin Cities without a car.
“Driving is really stressful, it’s also really expensive. It was just getting too expensive to own a car,” Johnson said. “And I can do other stuff while I’m on the train. I can talk to people, I can read, I can just enjoy the view out of the window.”
She said she plans to take the day off on the first day of the Green Line Extension next year.
But even with the excitement of the Green Line opening date, many at the event said they were just as excited for the future Blue Line Expansion project. That’s still a long ways down the line, with construction on the $3.58 billion project not expected to begin until at least 2027.
