SF2676 Summary

• The legislative auditor must conduct a special review, program evaluation, or combination thereof of the Southwest light rail transit project.

• The auditor is encouraged to examine delays and cost increases, Metropolitan Council project management, route decisions, design choices, cost estimation practices, hiring processes, change order reviews, contingency fund usage, and the January 2022 settlement with the prime construction contractor.

• The Metropolitan Council is prohibited from requiring vendors or contractors to report legislative auditor inquiries, and from retaliating against or reassigning employees or contractors based on participation in the review.

• The Metropolitan Council must provide semi-annual status updates by January 1 and July 1 to legislative committees detailing project expenditures compared to projections and changes to the anticipated completion date.

• $200,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative auditor in fiscal year 2022 for conducting the review, available until June 30, 2025.