Testing begins along the Green Line to Eden Prairie

After years of construction Delays and cost overrunsTrains are now moving on the tracks of the METRO Green Line Extension – a major light rail project that will connect downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.

The Metropolitan Council announced that testing had begun on the 14.5-mile stretch, which is now approximately 95 percent complete. The new route will pass through St. Louis Park, Hopkins and Minnetonka before terminating at the Southwest station in Eden Prairie. Passenger service is expected to begin in early 2027.

Officials say the project is expected to cost about $3 billion. Hennepin County officials and the Metropolitan Council say every dollar was closely reviewed after years of scrutiny over the project’s high price tag.

“Every dollar spent was well scrutinized,” Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Green said. “I feel confident in how this project will be implemented.”

Despite the high cost, officials say the investment is already driving growth. The Met Council estimates that more than $3.1 billion in new housing and commercial development projects have been built or planned along the line, with another $700 million in the pipeline.

Once complete, the expansion will include 16 stations and connect major job centers, schools and neighborhoods across the Southwest Metro to the existing Green Line, which currently connects downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul.

“There are over 4,000 tests that need to be done to show that it’s safe, that it works the way it’s supposed to work, that it meets all the standards, and that’s why it takes a full year to actually do all the tests,” said Interim Board of Meteorology President Deb Barber.

Green called the project an “investment for generations,” saying it will provide affordable, environmentally friendly transportation while reducing the financial burden of car ownership for many residents.

Officials say testing will continue through 2026 to ensure the system meets federal safety and performance standards before opening to the public.