Central Corridor Betterments

The Council has voted on a list of requested "betterments" for the Central Corridor project. These are improvements to physical infrastructure that may be funded by the project if the contingency funds not all be needed for construction overruns.



Some of the most exciting asks:

• Squaring off the intersection of Bedford and University


• Undergrounding Xcel power lines in Southeast


• Upgrading the fencing on the Cedar and 19th Ave S bridges and the Cedar Ave streetscape

In addition, my office worked with the Mayor's office, Council Member Colvin Roy and Public Works staff to draft a resolution requesting a seat on the project’s “Change Control Board,” the body that will make decisions on which betterments to fund.

This discussion does not include large-scale, standalone projects such as the work that has taken place at Franklin, East River Pkwy and 27th Ave SE, or Granary Road. It is important to note that Public Works and CPED staff have already been very successful in convincing the project office that many improvements to the streetscape should be included in the base budget. For instance, improvements to the lighting at the West Bank station and upgraded retaining walls. A number of betterments have also been agreed to by project partners: the U of M will pay for an inter-track fencing upgrade, Hennepin County will upgrade the Cedar bridge, etc.