Northstar Commuter Rail Receives $55 Million Earmark in Congressional Conference Report
ANOKA, Minn., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ — Northstar Commuter Rail leaders were pleased to hear this week that the conference report for the fiscal year 2008 federal transportation appropriations bill recommends $55 million for Northstar construction. Of the 40 new rail projects in the report, Northstar ranked 10th highest in total recommended dollars.
“Northstar’s ranking in the bill demonstrates how important this project is to our country’s transportation system,” said Dan Erhart, chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA). “We have our Congressional delegation to thank for this good news, primarily Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar, and Representatives Jim Oberstar and Keith Ellison.”
The House of Representatives approved the compromise bill on November 14. The Senate is expected to act on it following the Thanksgiving recess. It will then be forwarded to the President. The $55 million for Northstar is part of the $156 million total federal contribution for the project.
The 40-mile, Northstar Commuter Rail line will run on existing BNSF Railway tracks between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake. Rides will be available during the rush hours, Monday through Friday, with limited service on weekends and for some special events. When Northstar opens in late 2009, it will have the capacity to provide more than 2 million rides each year.
The project is a joint effort of the NCDA, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council.
About the Northstar Commuter Rail Project
Northstar Commuter Rail is proposed in an 80-mile corridor between downtown Minneapolis and St. Cloud. Phase One of the project is commuter rail service on the 40-mile segment of existing track along Highways 10 and 47 from Big Lake to Minneapolis. Stations are proposed for Big Lake, Elk River, Anoka, Coon Rapids, Fridley (deferred) and Minneapolis. Northstar will offer a convenient connection to the Hiawatha LRT line in downtown Minneapolis.
The NCDA is a joint powers board of 30 governmental entities representing counties, cities, townships and regional railroad authorities along the Northstar Corridor, which covers an area from downtown Minneapolis to the St. Cloud area.
For more information about the Northstar Commuter Rail project, please visit http://www.mn-getonboard.com/.
Northstar Commuter Rail
CONTACT: Tim Yantos of Northstar Commuter Rail, +1-763-323-5692
Web site: http://www.mn-getonboard.com/