Jump to content


Photo

Metro Transit/Proposed Southwest LRT to Eden Prairie


  • Please log in to reply
148 replies to this topic

#141 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 25 July 2018 - 09:58 AM

Sun Sailor, Osseo, MN 7/24/18:
 

Railroad company settles lawsuit over Southwest light rail

 

 

 

A railroad company agreed to drop its lawsuit against the Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County after reaching a settlement that will help clear the path for Southwest Light Rail Transit.

 

Twin Cities & Western Railroad sued earlier this year over a dispute centering on the removal of side tracks, the company’s rights and other issues.

 

As part of the settlement, TC&W agreed to withdraw its opposition to a Met Council federal petition and void its lawsuit. The Met Council approved the settlement July 18 on a voice vote, and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority voted 5-1 July 19 for approval.

 

“These agreements clear a major roadblock for Southwest LRT,” said Peter McLaughlin, chair of the railroad authority.

 

Continue here.



#142 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 06 October 2018 - 11:24 AM

Mass Transit Magazine, 10/5/18:

 


 

 

One Bidder Remains in Southwest Light Rail Project

 

 

 

Just one bidder remains in the effort to build the $2 billion Southwest light-rail line, the most-expensive public works project in state history.

 

 

Here is that story.



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#143 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 15 November 2018 - 03:19 PM

Progressive Railroading,11/15/18:

Feds green light Metro Transit's Southwest light-rail extension

051718-Metro-Transit-Green-Line-train.jp

With a letter of no prejudice in hand, the Metropolitan Council will be able to seek reimbursement for early construction work upon award of a Full Funding Grant from the FTA. Photo – Eric Wheeler, Metro Transit

 

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday issued a letter of no prejudice for Metro Transit's $2 billion Green Line light-rail extension in Minneapolis and its southwestern suburbs.

The letter makes early construction work on what's also known as the Southwest light-rail project eligible for federal reimbursement upon the award of a Full Funding Grant Agreement, which is anticipated for 2019, according to a Metropolitan Council press release. The federal government is expected to pay $929 million of the project's total costs.

 

Continue here.



#144 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 15 November 2018 - 09:41 PM

Southwest News Media, 11/14/18:

 


Construction on Southwest Light Rail Transit line to begin this winter

 

 

Construction on the $2 billion Southwest Light Rail Transit project can begin.

 

 

Progress



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#145 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 16 November 2018 - 03:41 PM

Progressive Railroading,11/16/18:

 
Met Council taps Lunda, McCrossan to build Southwest light-rail line

081617-Metro-Transit-Green-Line-train.jp

The companies will construct 14.5 miles of double track and 16 light-rail stations and structures. Photo – metrocouncil.org

 

Minnesota's Metropolitan Council yesterday awarded a nearly $800 million contract to Lunda/C.S. McCrossan to build the Southwest light-rail project, an extension of Metro Transit's Green Line service.

The $2 billion project marks Minnesota's largest infrastructure project to date, council officials said in a press release.

 

Continue here.



#146 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 16 November 2018 - 03:45 PM

Minnesota Metropolitan Council news release:
 

Lunda/McCrossan chosen to build Southwest LRT

 

 

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – November 15, 2018 – The Metropolitan Council today awarded a contract that is expected to create 7,500 construction jobs, totaling $350 million in payroll to be infused into the state’s economy. The Council voted to award local joint venture Lunda/C.S. McCrossan with the civil construction contract for what will be the state’s largest infrastructure project to date.

“People across the region and state have been waiting for this day,” said Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff. “This action means we can get to work on extending the highly successful Green Line into St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie, connecting people with jobs, education, services, and entertainment.

 

“For years now, the Southwest LRT project has achieved milestones, making its way through one process after another. While this action is yet another part of that process, it’s so much more than that – it’s the certainty our region needed that this project will get built and maximize the millions local communities have invested as they plan for this project to change the blueprint of their cities.”

Lunda/C.S. McCrossan was the low bidder on the construction contract, at $799,514,338. It was one of two competitive bids the Council received this year.

 

The Council, in partnership with Hennepin County, the project’s primary local funder, is expecting to hold a ceremonial groundbreaking later this month, with construction activities getting underway by the end of the year.

  Lunda/McCrossan team experienced with constructing rail, structures

 

Lunda/McCrossan will build 14.5 miles of double track with 16 LRT stations and structures in a corridor that will share 7.8 miles with freight railroad tracks, requiring close coordination with Twin Cities & Western Railroad and BNSF Railway during construction and later during LRT operation. The structures include:

  • 29 new bridges (LRT, pedestrian, freight and roadway)
  • Seven existing bridges to be modified
  • Six pedestrian tunnels
  • Two “cut-and-cover” LRT tunnels, a 582-foot tunnel under state Highway 62 on the Minnetonka-Eden Prairie border and a 2,236-foot tunnel in the Kenilworth corridor of Minneapolis 
  • Over 100 retaining walls

 

Lunda Construction Co., which is based in Black River Falls, Wis., specializes in bridge, railroad and industrial construction. Lunda built the St. Croix Crossing bridge spanning the St. Croix River between Oak Park Heights, Minn., and St. Joseph, Wis., that opened in 2017.

 

McCrossan, which is based in Maple Grove, Minn., is a diversified highway/heavy civil general contractor with experience building light rail lines. McCrossan was one of the prime contractors that worked on the Minneapolis portion of the Green Line, which included rehabbing the Washington Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River to accommodate the addition of light rail tracks. McCrossan also performed work building the Blue Line, the region’s first light rail line.

 

The estimated 7,500 construction workers needed to build the line are expected to come from all across the state of Minnesota. During construction on the Green Line, construction workers came from 61 of the 87 counties in Minnesota.

  Moving into construction 

 

The Council’s action was made possible by the receipt of a Letter of No Prejudice (LONP) from the FTA, which makes early construction work on the project eligible for federal reimbursement upon award of the Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA). The Council anticipates submitting an application for the FFGA upon invitation from the FTA, with hopes of receiving the FFGA in spring 2019.

 

With the FFGA, the federal government would pay $929 million, nearly half, of the project’s total cost. This follows the same approval path the Green Line took before receiving full federal funding in 2011.

 

Moving forward, the Council will issue a Limited Notice to Proceed in December. A Limited Notice to Proceed is the Council's way of giving the Contractor permission to start construction on designated parts of the project. This allows the Council to keep the project on schedule while we submit the grant application and the FTA completes its review.

 

Activities this winter could include staffing and equipment mobilization, site clearance, demolition and utility work. Heavy construction would occur in 2019-2022, with testing of the system with new light rail vehicles in 2022-23.  After the Council awards the construction contract, more precise construction and project timelines can be developed. The line would open in 2023.

 

 



#147 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 18 November 2018 - 02:15 PM

Mankato, MN Free Press, 11/17/18:

 

 

 

Light rail to reach a bit closer to Mankato by 2023

 

 

Southern Minnesotans who love checking out professional sports, theater and other Minneapolis events — but hate Twin Cities traffic and parking — will have a new option in as little as five years.

 

 

Story



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#148 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 19 November 2018 - 11:54 AM

Global Construction Review, 11/19/18:

 


 

“Largest project ever”: Minneapolis picks team for $800m light rail scheme

 

 

In what is being billed as the state of Minnesota’s largest infrastructure project ever, the Metropolitan Council governing the twin cities of Minneapolis–St Paul has awarded a just-under $800m contract to local joint venture Lunda/CS McCrossan to build a 14.5-mile Light Rapid Transit (LRT) railway.

 

 

More



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#149 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 08 December 2018 - 09:36 PM

Minneapolis, MN Star-Tribune, 12/8/18:

 


 

Developers eye building projects near Southwest light-rail stations

 

 

John Haga, owner of Bongo’s & Bud’s Music Center in downtown Hopkins, envisions hopping on the Southwest light-rail line near his shop and heading over to the Turf Club for a bit of live music in St. Paul.

 

 

Article



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ





1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users