The Metropolitan Council is on its way to creating a regional policy that could aid the development of more than a dozen lines under consideration in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board called on the federal agency to intervene in the $1.65 billion project earlier this year – citing concerns that impacts to the channel, lakes and surrounding park land in the narrow corridor between Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles hadn’t been adequately studied.

Some of the greatest potential noise impacts will be near the 21st Street station in the Kenilworth area, which the project considers a “park-like” setting.

Rides on Metro Transit – the region’s largest transit provider – grew to the highest ridership tallied in more than three decades.

Some lawmakers are questioning the state’s involvement in expanding the rail line, which is projected to cost about $1.6 billion to construct and will require another $40 million per year to operate.

Scott County is gauging whether residents would support a half-cent sales tax to pay for road improvements and transit development and operations.