Pioneer Press Wed, 28 May 2008 17:51:26 -0600
Met Council approves rail route over U's objections
The U is now officially alone, and an influential lawmaker says arrogance has landed them there. The University of Minnesota cast the lone dissenting vote this afternoon against a Central Corridor route through campus along Washington Avenue at a meeting of a key advisory panel. The 11-1 vote by the advisory panel was affirmed by the Met Council in an overwheliming voice vote this evening , officials said. Among the 11 were representatives of the following entities and interests: cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Ramsey and Hennepin counties, state departments of transportation and finance, Met Council, neighborhood groups and the business community. The university, which initially wanted a tunnel under campus and now is advocating for a detour along the northern edge of campus, has maintained a series of objections for months, centered around disruptions as a result of removing cars from Washington. The impact of the university's opposition is unclear, but local officials fear it will delay, or possibly kill, the project, as costs increase with inflation and the federal government â€" needed to fund half the nearly $900 million line from St. Paul to Minneapolis â€" regards local discord as cause for denial.
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