Deal allows Minnesota rail project to move forward

By Bill Clements
Dolan Media Newswires

Minneapolis — Negotiators from the University of Minnesota and the Metropolitan Council have reached tentative agreement on several sticky issues that will allow the Central Corridor light rail transit project to proceed “on time and on budget.”

“Major public works projects all encounter bumps in the road and there is no question this one has had its fair share,” according to a statement attributed to University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks.

“We are pleased that this important infrastructure project can move forward and be built on time and on budget.”

The agreement came during mediation sessions held by retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Lebedoff.

The deal calls for a temporary easement the Metropolitan Council needs to do traffic work on the university campus to prepare for construction of the $957 million light rail project that will connect the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Last month, the two sides reached an impasse on safeguards against vibrations and electromagnetic interference that could harm sensitive and expensive equipment and research conducted in university labs along Washington Avenue when the trains come rolling by.

University officials decided to stick to their contention that the Metropolitan Council should be subject to $25,000-a-day fines if light rail trains exceed standard levels set for the electromagnetic interference and vibrations — even if no harm or damage occurs.

As part of the deal, the parties have agreed to:

* Use the science-based standards, developed over 18 months, for the design, engineering, construction and operation of the line, with remedies for excessive vibrations and the electromagnetic interference.

* A construction management plan with standards for the advanced traffic improvements, which provides the framework for an overall construction management plan.

The university’s point person on the light rail project, Kathleen O’Brien, vice president for University Services, said the agreement was “very good news.”

“Since the beginning of the CCLRT project, the university’s objectives have been two-fold: to bring light rail to campus, and protect university research,” O’Brien said.

“The agreement we have reached with the Metropolitan Council is very good news.”