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Greetings: As you know, the University of Minnesota has long supported the arrival of the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (CCLRT) project on the Minneapolis campus, provided that the U's research along the route is properly protected.Today the University filed suit against the Metropolitan Council in Hennepin County District Court, seeking protection from the adverse effects of CCLRT construction and operation. President Bruininks said that while the University is a supporter of the CCLRT project and is eager to reach agreement with the Metropolitan Council, "the consequences of not protecting our land grant university's research infrastructure along the Washington Avenue corridor from the adverse effects that could result if this public works project is not done right are just too great to risk." The suit's timing was largely dictated by Minnesota law that requires filing of environmental claims within 30 days of the Metropolitan Council's final decision on the adequacy of its environmental review of the project in August. The suit alleges that the final environmental impact statement and related decisions about the project fail to adequately address serious adverse effects the rail line will cause to the 80 laboratory facilities in 17 buildings along or in close proximity to the proposed CCLRT Washington Avenue route. "It remains the University's goal to identify effective solutions, based on sound science, that will move this transit project forward while protecting our public research mission and resources from potentially serious degradation," said Bruininks. "This lawsuit does not preclude us from continuing to sit down with our project partners and work through the remaining issues to find scientifically effective solutions that will protect our research mission." We will continue to provide news updates as they become available. |
