FTA says Metro Transit's light rail funds cannot be redirected

ST. PAUL, Minn. — In response to the state legislature’s plan to redirect Metro Transit’s Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) funds to roads and bridges, Alpha News reports the Federal Transportation Administration says Capital Investment Grant funds can only be used for major transit capital projects.

The GOP state legislators who introduced the plan said that they do not plan on backing down from their request.

The SWLRT project is estimated to cost almost $2 billion to complete. The Metropolitan Council is required to secure half the total cost through local sources before applying for a federal matching grant and expects to receive the full federal grant amount by mid-2017. For the full story, click here.