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Commuter rail project hits stumbling block
Planning for the Northstar commuter rail project, a commuter rail, which would link the Twin Cities with the St. Cloud/Rice area, hit a stumbling block last week, as the Minnesota House of Representatives stripped all the funding for Northstar out of an $839 million capital bonding bill before passing the bill last Monday.
The House had originally added $9 million to the bill for the Northstar project, but Monday's vote removed the funds. The project is still being considered after the State Senate appropriated $8 million, but that number falls far short of the state's projected $120 million share of the $294 million project.
Rep. Jim Knoblach, R-St. Cloud, an early supporter of the commuter rail, was instrumental in garnering support for stripping Northstar funding from the bill. Knoblach could not be reached for comment, but he did tell the Star Tribune last week, "I will tell you this vote is probably the most difficult vote that I've ever taken."
The Northstar commuter rail project would develop a commuter rail along the 82 mile stretch of the Northstar Corridor, which runs from the Twin Cities to St. Cloud. The Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) estimates that 10,000 people would use the rail every day, making up the equivalent of 17 lanes of traffic.
The strip of highways 10 and 47 that makes up the Northstar corridor is considered to be the fastest growing area in the state. Starting in 1997, the Minnesota Legislature has been trying to find the best way to clear traffic congestion along the corridor, and the commuter rail seemed to be the most promising solution until last week's setbacks.
St. Cloud Mayor, John Ellenbecker, said that the commuter is an important step in developing the corridor, and the communities it runs through.
"What makes St. Cloud attractive to people who want to live here and businesses that want to move here is our easy accessibility to the Twin Cities," he said. "If we don't develop the commuter rail, congestion along highway 10 and interstate 94 will become extremely congested, and take away that accessibility." Ellenbecker added that from a cost perspective, the commuter rail "is just good common sense."
The NCDA estimates the cost of the project at $294 million with $120 million coming from the state, $27 million coming from local sources, and the final $147 million coming from the federal government to match the other funds. The striking down by the house of the funds from the state level has put any hopes for federal funds on hold.
The Northstar commuter rail has received strong support from Governor Jesse Ventura, Mayor Ellenbecker, as well as many residents along the Northstar Corridor. The NCDA has been flooded with e-mails and calls from those who want to see the commuter rail become a reality, and the House has been heavily lobbied by the project's proponents.
NCDA studies have shown that the Northstar rail will cost $3.2 million per mile to operate, compared with $40-70 million per mile to build a new urban freeway, $50-60 million per mile to operate a light rail system, $10-12 million per mile to upgrade highway 10 from Anoka through Elk River, where most of the congestion is occurring.
Costs are expected to be low for the commuter rail because it will operate on existing tracks. The only expenses would be updating the tracks in certain areas, constructing stations and other operating costs.
It is unclear what the next step will be in the Northstar project. A conference committee has been formed to work out the differences between the House and the Senate's bonding bills. The NCDA has said that it feels the conference committee is the last chance for Northstar, and they hope that the $8 million in the Senate's budget will remain in the final version of the bill.
The House has recommended an $839 million capital improvement bill, while the Senate's version calls for $1.2 billion. In January, Gov. Ventura's plan was for an $834.2 bill, but he has since stated that the figure may be shaved down closer to $500 million. With budget debates still going on, and a $2 billion shortfall looming over everything, the Northstar Corridor's future remains uncertain.
Jake Zisla can be reached at: [email protected]
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