The Metro Red Line will be getting a new transit platform in the center median of Cedar Avenue at Nichols Road in Eagan later this year. On Thursday, representatives talk about the planned station and show off preliminary designs at an open house from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Cedar Grove Station in Eagan.
Construction on the new platform that will operate in a similar fashion to one on I-35W at 46th Street is scheduled to begin in early 2016.
Plans call for a enclosed skyway to connect the new platform with the existing station at 4035 Nicols Road. The cost will be about $14.5 million
Officials say the new platform will help shave time off the trips on the Metro Red Line and some express routes that travel on Cedar Avenue by eliminating the need for buses to exit the highway to drop-off and pick up passengers at the current Cedar Grove Station. The time savings is estimated at about 5 minutes in each direction, Metro Transit officials said.
Along with the Metro Red Line, several Minnesota Valley Transit Authority buses serve the Cedar Grove Transit Station. The station is across from the Twin Cities Premium Outlets.
