Constructing a well-designed light rail system in the Twin Cities is critical  in  helping  reduce air pollution,  sprawl, and traffic congestion. In addition, the housing and business development that occurs around light rail stops always is more than a billion dollars.

For those reasons, the Minnesota Center for Envrionmental Advocacy has been a strong advocate for the 11-mile Central Corridor line which will connect downtown St. Paul to downtown Minneapolis. It will also link to the Hiawatha line and the Northstar Commuter Rail line that runs from downtown Minneapolis to Big Lake.

The $900 million Central Corridor line will run primarily down University Avenue before turning onto Washington Avenue for a run through the University of Minnesota campus. It is in preliminary engineering and awaiting final approval from the federal government, which would then pay half of the construction costs.