The Hennepin County Board voted today to spend up to 435 million dollars to begin construction of the Southwest Light Rail Line between downtown Minneapolis and Eden Prairie. It comes the day after the federal government indicated it would likely pay close to half of the estimated two billion dollars to build the 15-mile line. The Star Tribune reports Commissioner Peter McLaughlin likened the light rail network to the interstate highway system built in the mid 20th century. But Commissioner Jeff Johnson warns the cost is enormous, will be subsidized forever and do nothing to relieve traffic congestion.