Dear Neighbors,
I have long made clear my opposition to light rail public transit options as they often end up being boondoggles, costing taxpayers millions of dollars for something that could be provided by buses.
The latest bad news emerged earlier this month when we received word that construction on the Southwest Light Rail (SWLRT) project will take an extra three years and add up to $550 million to the already high cost.
The project cost has risen from an initial estimate of $1.1 billion to more than $3 billion when all is said and done.
These sorts of delays and cost overruns are typical of big government and just the latest example of Governor Walz and Democrats' continued insistence on wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on failed transit projects. We could rebuild hundreds of miles of local roads with the funds Walz is wasting on these projects.
This latest setback has renewed calls from myself and others for increased transparency at the Metropolitan Council and for audits of the Southwest Light Rail project. It would be wise to put a pause on the project until more is understood regarding the delays and cost overruns.
Thankfully, sanity has come to St. Paul as Democrats and Republicans alike have called for an audit of the project.
While it is good that additional information will be brought to light on this project, we cannot forget that we’re still wasting millions of dollars each month and subsidizing each rider on public trains to the tune of upwards of $19.41 per rider, per trip. We could literally save money if we leased every rider a brand-new car.
It’s time to get real about addressing these serious costs and stand up for the hardworking taxpayers of Minnesota. I am committed to making sure that state government is accountable to you, the people.
Staying in Touch
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me to share your thoughts, questions, and concerns as it relates to state government. I can be reached at 651-296-4229 or via email at rep.glenn.gruenhagen@house.mn.
Have a great day,
Glenn