Organizers of the Northern Lights Express say they're disappointed Anoka County is pulling out of the rail line between Duluth and the Twin Cities. But they say it won't kill the project. Plans call for engineering work to begin this summer.

Three lawsuits--only one of which is still pending--have added more than a million dollars to the Central Corridor light rail construction project. Taxpayers are on the line for the extra costs but the Metropolitan Council says it doesn't anticipate any cost overruns.

Buses will subsite the light rail route between Target Field and Franklin Avenue starting Friday evening. Metro Transit is warning commuters buses will take longer than the train. The light rail is expected to resume full service early Monday morning.

The Metropolitan Council has decided not to award a nearly $100 million contract to URS Corp. Instead, the Star Tribune reports the agency divided engineering work for the $1.25 billion Southwest Corridor light-rail line into four separate contracts. San Francisco-based URS will still be allowed to bid on the smaller contracts, despite its involvement with the Sabo pedestrian bridge and the Interstate 35W bridge before it collapsed in August 2007.

The Gateway Corridor Commission says there isn't enough space on the Interstate 94 bridge overlooking the St. Croix River for a light rail transit crossing.