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Southwest Light Rail gets federal approval

The project received long-awaited federal approval on Wednesday, clearing the path for construction to begin.

The Southwest Light Rail can finally begin construction, after clearing a big hurdle.

The project received long-awaited federal approval on Wednesday, clearing the path for construction to begin. The over $2 billion project will be the largest infrastructure project in Minnesota history.

"This news is long-awaited and hard-earned,” Governor Mark Dayton said in a statement Wednesday. “The Southwest Light Rail Transit project is a critical economic development project for the people of Minnesota. When complete, it will improve many thousands of lives from Eden Prairie to North Minneapolis. It will create new jobs, reduce highway congestion, and better connect Minnesotans to one another."

The federal approval comes from the Federal Transit Administration in the form of a "Letter of No Prejudice."

Early construction could start in December, with heavy construction beginning in early 2019.

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