---

1981 - Met. Council, MnDOT, and the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) prepare “LRT Feasibility Study” which examines LRT connecting downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul.

1985 - Met. Council expands study area to include southwest corridor from Minneapolis to Hopkins and prepares “University Avenue/Southwest Alternatives Analysis.”

1985 - Legislature prohibits spending public funds on LRT.

1987 - Minnesota Legislature removed 1985 prohibition, gives newly created Regional Rail Authorities ability to conduct rail transit planning.

1988 - Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority and the Regional Transit Board (created in 1984) complete “Light Rail Transit Planning Analysis for the Midway Corridor.”

1990 - Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority and Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority complete Preliminary Engineering and EIS for LRT in Midway Corridor.

1992 - Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority, Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority, and MnDOT begin new Alternatives Analysis/Draft EIS under new federal process and with the addition of a tunnel under downtown Minneapolis. Public meetings on Draft Scoping Report held in August.

1993 - Three public forums held in September on new Alternatives Analysis for Central Corridor. MnDOT selects LRT as preferred alternative on 35W south.

1994 - Joint lead agencies complete the Central Corridor Alternatives Analysis and Draft EIS. Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority and Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority select LRT as preferred alternative. MnDOT never selects preferred alternative. Focus shifts away from Central Corridor.

1998 - First allocation of $40 million in state funding for LRT is provided by Minnesota legislature for the Hiawatha Corridor project. Another $60 million provided in 1999.

2001 - Three scoping meetings held on Central Corridor Project in June. Response to scoping comments released.

2002 - Public meeting in June. Central Corridor Coordinating Committee recommends proceeding with preparation of a DEIS for the Central Corridor with a University Avenue alignment.

2004 - Ramsey County prepares new Draft EIS on Central Corridor, but FTA changes requirements for cost-effectiveness determination and EIS is not released.

2006 - Draft EIS for Central Corridor is released for public comment.