We at Center of the American Experiment have been tracking the ever-increasing costs of the Blue Line Extension project since at least 2017.
As recently as March 2024, the project was projected to cost around $2.2 billion. Then, it jumped by 45% to a range of $2.9 to $3.2 billion owing to added contingency costs required by the federal government. Last week, the Metropolitan Council announced that the budget had been revised upward again, by $336 million, or 11%. Indeed, since the start of 2024, the Blue Line extension’s cost has exploded by 61%.
In a statement to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, the Met Council said:
The increase in budget is a combination of project scope changes and additional contingency. The completion of this Risk Assessment is a significant milestone and means that as soon as the remaining local contributions are identified, the project is eligible to apply for a Full Funding Grant Agreement. The Metropolitan Council is working with Hennepin County to advance the project. We will remain transparent with partners and communities throughout this process.
Originally slated to begin in 2030, services isn’t now expected to finish until 2032, with revenue service not starting for another year after that. There is still time for that price tag to go even higher.
