");vwo_$('head').append(_vwo_sel);return vwo_$('head')[0] && vwo_$('head')[0].lastChild;})("HEAD")}}, R_940895_48_1_2_0:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) { if(!vwo_$.fn.vwoRevertHtml){ return; }; var ctx=vwo_$(x),el; /*vwo_debug log("Revert","content",""); vwo_debug*/; el=vwo_$('[vwo-element-id="1742919897117"]'); el.revertContentOp().remove();})("HEAD")}}, C_940895_48_1_2_1:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) {var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("editElement",".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")).html("Hello! David Brancaccio here. Do you want instant access to the free online course - “Economics 101” - to understand basic economic concepts?");})(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")}}, R_940895_48_1_2_1:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) { if(!vwo_$.fn.vwoRevertHtml){ return; }; var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("Revert","editElement",".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")).vwoRevertHtml();})(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")}}, C_940895_48_1_2_2:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) {var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("content","[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$("[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']")).replaceWith2("You'll gain real-world insights into how economics impacts your daily life with this easy-to-follow online course. This crash course is based on the acclaimed textbook Economy, Society, and Public Policy by CORE Econ, tailored to help you grasp key concepts without feeling overwhelmed.

Whether you're new to economics or just want to deepen your understanding, this course covers the basics and connects them to today’s pressing issues—from inequality to public policy decisions.

Each week, you'll receive a reading guide that distills core principles, offers actionable takeaways, and explains how they affect the current world. While the full ebook enriches the experience, the guides alone provide a comprehensive understanding of fundamental economic ideas.

You’ll find this course especially useful and unique because…"),el=vwo_$("[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']");})("[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']")}}},rules:[{"tags":[{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":6}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908}],"triggers":["8639604"]},{"tags":[{"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":0}],"triggers":["12454056"]},{"tags":[{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033}],"triggers":["8536415"]},{"tags":[{"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":6}]},"id":"metric","metricId":0}],"triggers":["12454059"]},{"tags":[{"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.39","priority":4}],"triggers":["12454053"]},{"tags":[{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030}],"triggers":["8536412"]},{"tags":[{"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":7}]},"id":"metric","metricId":0}],"triggers":["12454062"]},{"tags":[{"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":0}],"triggers":["12639747"]},{"tags":[{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027}],"triggers":["8536409"]},{"tags":[{"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.63","priority":4},{"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.54","priority":4},{"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.55","priority":4},{"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.64","priority":4},{"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.16","priority":4},{"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.48","priority":4},{"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.61","priority":4},{"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.62","priority":4}],"triggers":["10589191"]},{"tags":[{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905}],"triggers":["8459768"]},{"tags":[{"id":"groupCampaigns","priority":2},{"id":"prePostMutation","priority":3}],"triggers":["8"]},{"tags":[{"id":"visibilityService","priority":2}],"triggers":["9"]},{"tags":[{"id":"runTestCampaign"}],"triggers":["2"]},{"tags":[{"id":"urlChange"}],"triggers":["75"]},{"tags":[{"id":"checkEnvironment"}],"triggers":["5"]}],pages:{"ec":[{"1625289":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i).*"]]}},{"2121531":{"inc":["o",["pg","eq","141375"]]}}],"pc":[{"141375":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/story.*"],["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/episode.*"]]}}]},pagesEval:{"ec":[1625289,2121531],"pc":[141375]},stags:{}}})(); ;;var commonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={valuesGetter:function(){return{}},valuesSetter:function(){},verifyData:function(){return{}}}}const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var pollInterval=100;var timeout=6e4;return function(){var accountIntegrationSettings={};var _interval=null;function waitForAnalyticsVariables(){try{accountIntegrationSettings=argument.valuesGetter();accountIntegrationSettings.visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid()}catch(error){accountIntegrationSettings=undefined}if(accountIntegrationSettings&&argument.verifyData(accountIntegrationSettings)){argument.valuesSetter(accountIntegrationSettings);return 1}return 0}var currentTime=0;_interval=setInterval((function(){currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var result=waitForAnalyticsVariables();if(result||performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout){clearInterval(_interval)}}),pollInterval)}}; var pushBasedCommonWrapper=function(argument){var firedCamp={};if(!argument){argument={integrationName:"",getExperimentList:function(){},accountSettings:function(){},pushData:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var sendDebugLogsOld=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type,data){try{var errorPayload={f:argument["integrationName"]||"",a:window._vwo_acc_id,url:window.location.href,exp:expId,v:variationId,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(errorType=="initIntegrationCallback"){errorPayload["log_type"]="initIntegrationCallback";errorPayload["data"]=JSON.stringify(data||"")}else if(errorType=="timeout"){errorPayload["timeout"]=true}if(window.VWO._.customError){window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug",url:window.location.href,lineno:"",colno:"",source:JSON.stringify(errorPayload)})}}catch(e){window.VWO._.customError&&window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug failed",url:"",lineno:"",colno:"",source:""})}};var sendDebugLogs=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type){var eventName="vwo_debugLogs";var eventPayload={};try{eventPayload={intName:argument["integrationName"]||"",varId:variationId,expId:expId,type:errorType,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(window.VWO._.event){window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload,{enableLogs:1})}}catch(e){eventPayload={msg:"integration event log failed",url:window.location.href};window.VWO._.event&&window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload)}};const callbackFn=function(data){if(!data)return;var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2],repeated=data[0],singleCall=0,debug=0;var experimentList=argument.getExperimentList();var integrationName=argument["integrationName"]||"vwo";if(typeof argument.accountSettings==="function"){var accountSettings=argument.accountSettings();if(accountSettings){singleCall=accountSettings["singleCall"];debug=accountSettings["debug"]}}if(debug){sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intCallTriggered",repeated)}if(singleCall&&(repeated==="vS"||repeated==="vSS")||firedCamp[expId]){return}window.expList=window.expList||{};var expList=window.expList[integrationName]=window.expList[integrationName]||[];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(_vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){if(experimentList.indexOf(+expId)!==-1){firedCamp[expId]=variationId;var visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid();var pollInterval=100;var currentTime=0;var timeout=6e4;var user_type=_vwo_exp[expId].exec?"vwo-retry":"vwo-new";var interval=setInterval((function(){if(expList.indexOf(expId)!==-1){clearInterval(interval);return}currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var toClearInterval=argument.pushData(expId,variationId,visitorUuid);if(debug&&toClearInterval){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intDataPushed",user_type)}var isTimeout=performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout;if(isTimeout&&debug){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"timeout",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intTimeout",user_type)}if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}if(toClearInterval){window.expList[integrationName].push(expId)}}),pollInterval||100)}}};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",callbackFn]);window.VWO.push(["onVariationShownSent",callbackFn])}}; var surveyDataCommonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={getCampaignList:function(){return[]},surveyStatusChange:function(){},answerSubmitted:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];function getValuesFromAnswers(answers){var values=[];for(var i=0;i=timeout;if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}}),pollInterval)}}window.VWO.push(["onSurveyShown",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyShown")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyCompleted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyCompleted")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyAnswerSubmitted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.answerSubmitted,"surveySubmitted")}])}}; (function(){var VWOOmniTemp={};window.VWOOmni=window.VWOOmni||{};for(var key in VWOOmniTemp)Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(VWOOmniTemp,key)&&(window.VWOOmni[key]=VWOOmniTemp[key]);;})();(function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];var pollInterval=100;var _vis_data={};var intervalObj={};var analyticsTimerObj={};var experimentListObj={};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",function(data){if(!data){return}var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(window._vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){}}])})();; ;var vD=VWO.data||{};VWO.data={content:{"fns":{"list":{"vn":1,"args":{"1":{}}}}},as:"r5.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",dacdnUrl:"https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",accountJSInfo:{"noSS":false,"pc":{"t":0,"a":0},"rp":30,"ts":1743682660}};for(var k in vD){VWO.data[k]=vD[k]};;var gcpfb=function(a,loadFunc,status,err,success){function vwoErr() {_vwo_err({message:"Google_Cdn failing for " + a + ". Trying Fallback..",code:"cloudcdnerr",status:status});} if(a.indexOf("/cdn/")!==-1){loadFunc(a.replace("cdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;} else if(a.indexOf("/dcdn/")!==-1&&a.indexOf("evad.js") !== -1){loadFunc(a.replace("dcdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;}};window.VWO=window.VWO || [];window.VWO._= window.VWO._ || {};window.VWO._.gcpfb=gcpfb;;var d={cookie:document.cookie,URL:document.URL,referrer:document.referrer};var w={VWO:{_:{}},location:{href:window.location.href,search:window.location.search},_vwoCc:window._vwoCc};;window._vwo_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window._vwo_apm_debug_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window.VWO._.useCdn=true;window.vwo_eT="br";window._VWO=window._VWO||{};window._VWO.fSeg={};window._VWO.dcdnUrl="/dcdn/settings.js";window.VWO.sTs=1743674205;window._VWO._vis_nc_lib=window._vwo_cdn+"edrv/nc-e76f33e8accfa6859749db0f9a4d4230br.js";var loadWorker=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb: function(xhr,a){window._vwo_wt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 ||xhr.status===304){var code="var window="+JSON.stringify(w)+",document="+JSON.stringify(d)+";window.document=document;"+xhr.responseText;var blob=new Blob([code||"throw new Error('code not found!');"],{type:"application/javascript"}),url=URL.createObjectURL(blob);window.mainThread={webWorker:new Worker(url)};window.vwoChannelFW=new MessageChannel();window.vwoChannelToW=new MessageChannel();window.mainThread.webWorker.postMessage({vwoChannelToW:vwoChannelToW.port1,vwoChannelFW:vwoChannelFW.port2},[vwoChannelToW.port1, vwoChannelFW.port2]);if(!window._vwo_mt_f)return window._vwo_wt_f=true;_vwo_code.addScript({text:window._vwo_mt_f});delete window._vwo_mt_f}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a)}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker)){return;}window._vwo_wt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadWorker("https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/edrv/worker-1135852b6bc11a94eb64017a8d120ad8br.js");;var _vis_opt_file;var _vis_opt_lib;if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings.isSurveyPreviewMode){var surveyHash=window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.SURVEY_DEBUG_EVENTS.HASH;var param1="evad.js?va=";var param2="&d=debugger_new";var param3="&sp=1&a=940895&sh="+surveyHash;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?param1+"vanj"+param2:param1+"va_gq"+param2:param1+"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js"+param2;_vis_opt_file=_vis_opt_file+param3;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/dcdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode=="PREVIEW"){ var path1 = 'edrv/pd_'; var path2 = window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.EVAD.HASH + ".js"; ;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?path1+"vanj"+path2:path1+"va_gq"+path2:path1+"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js"+path2;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else{_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?"edrv/vanj-55389bda300ad24b514d62f335aa126abr.js":"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js":"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js"}window._vwo_library_timer=setTimeout((function(){vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay();vwoCode.finish()}),vwoCode.library_tolerance&&typeof vwoCode.library_tolerance()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.library_tolerance():2500),_vis_opt_lib=typeof _vis_opt_lib=="undefined"?window._vwo_cdn+_vis_opt_file:_vis_opt_lib;var loadLib=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb:function(xhr,a){window._vwo_mt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 || xhr.status===304){if(!window._vwo_wt_f)return window._vwo_mt_f=xhr.responseText;_vwo_code.addScript({text:xhr.responseText});delete window._vwo_wt_f;}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadLib,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadLib)){return;}window._vwo_mt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadLib(_vis_opt_lib);VWO.load_co=function(u,opts){return window._vwo_code.load(u,opts);};;;}}catch(e){_vwo_code.finish();_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay();_vwo_err(e);window.VWO.caE=1}})();
Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Curtis Gilbert

Mpls. park board ends fight over Southwest light rail

Light rail rendering
This artist rendering shows how the proposed Southwest light rail route would look to boaters at the bridge over the canal between Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles.
Courtesy of the Metropolitan Council

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Updated: 4:55 p.m. | Posted: 1 p.m.

The Minneapolis Park Board is dropping its objections to the Southwest Corridor light rail project, removing some of the legal uncertainty surrounding the most expensive transit project in state history.

Under the tentative agreement, the park board would end its quest to run the trains through a tunnel underneath the channel of water between Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles.

Instead, it will go along with the Metropolitan Council's plan to use a bridge to cross the channel.

Once the board signs off on the deal, the Met Council would reimburse the park board for half the money it's spent on engineering work studying the tunnel option — up to $250,000.

The study found the tunnel could have added more than $100 million to the project's $1.65 billion price tag.

"It would have more disruptive and more costly, and more of a challenge, frankly, for the area," Met Council Chair Adam Duininck said of the tunnel.

Park Board President Liz Wielinski said the board will instead focus on making sure the bridge over the channel won't disturb the scenery.

"That is a bucolic area, and if we could do the bridges differently, I think we could make it still look pretty, and rustic and park-like without making it look like you're going under a freeway underpass," Wielinski said.

In light of the tentative deal, Gov. Mark Dayton has also agreed to restore nearly $4 million in state funding to the parks system, which he had threatened to cut.

The project still faces another legal hurdle.

A group of Minneapolis residents who live near the line — Lakes and Parks Alliance of Minneapolis — has filed a federal lawsuit arguing the Met Council should have done additional environmental reviews before the Minneapolis City Council voted on the project.

"We're disappointed we lost this avenue for addressing the problem of the degradation that is proposed for the chain of lakes," said Mary Pattock, board member of the Lakes and Parks Alliance.

Volume Button
Volume
Now Listening To Livestream
MPR News logo
On Air
MPR News