Do an Unfair Number of Rail Projects Go to Minneapolis, West Metro?

Most of the recent debate over rail has been between those who want to spend more money on light rail and those who prefer spending the money on roads and buses.

On Sunday, though, the Pioneer Press had a look at a light issue that hasn’t garnered as much attention: Is the east metro getting its share of rail projects?

The paper notes that St. Paul’s only rail line right now is Amtrak and that the city is on track to add just one light rail line, the Central Corridor Light Rail line running between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minneapolis, on the other hand, could someday be the starting point of the Hiawatha, Southwest, Bottineau, Central Corridor and Northstar lines.

Some east metro legislators say that’s not fair. State officials and Hennepin County commissioners counter that lines require a certain amount of density to work and that previous east metro rail proposals fell through because of neighborhood opposition.

Click here to read the full Pioneer Press story.

Patch wants to know what you think. Does it makes sense to concentrate so much of the metro’s rail projects west of the river or should the state give our neighbors on the east side more rail options? Share your thoughts in the comments below.