Office of the Legislative Auditor - Program Evaluation Division

Southwest Light Rail Transit Construction: Metropolitan Council Oversight of Contractors

June 28, 2023

We found that the Metropolitan Council has not adequately enforced several aspects of its key Southwest Light Rail Transit (Southwest LRT) construction contracts, nor does it have adequate documentation to support some project decisions. We make recommendations to the Council to improve its construction management processes.

The Office of the Legislative Auditor is issuing multiple reports on the Southwest Light Rail Transit project.

• Memorandum: Southwest Project Costs and Management (October 2021)
• Special Review: Southwest Light Rail Transit: Project Budget and Timeline (September 2022)
• Program Evaluation: Southwest Light Rail Transit Construction: Metropolitan Council Decision Making (March 2023)
• Program Evaluation: Southwest Light Rail Transit Construction: Metropolitan Council Oversight of Contractors (June 2023)
• Financial Audit: Metropolitan Council: Southwest Light Rail Transit (work in progress)

In addition, the Minnesota Department of Transportation conducted a peer review of the project in December 2022.

Update released in 2024.

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