Cambridge Rail

An excellent story in ABC Newspapers by Peter Bodley, on Oct. 8, explains the sources of funding and the timeline for completion of the 155-mile line between Minneapolis and Duluth-Superior.

Key facts:

• The $1.1 million dollar matching grant from the U.S. DOT will fund a study of the infrastructure needs of the proposed line, not just its environmental concerns.
• Bids will go out by Oct. 22 and a consultant should start the study by Jan. 1, 2009.
• “If all goes according to plan and federal and state funding is secured
  for the project, the passenger rail service could be operational in the
  next two to three years”
• Some of the funding for the line could come from the new quarter-cent sales tax.
• The Northern Lights Express will merge with the Northstar line (Minneapolis to Big Lake) in Coon Rapids.

In a story from MPR, we are reminded that the Duluth line from Minneapolis isn’t an isolated project. Instead, it’s part of a larger high-speed rail line in the Midwest converging on Chicago. While I’m for the Northern Lights Express (Minneapolis-Duluth), I’m for it mostly because it will provide “commuter” service to the Twin Cities.

As a side note, a couple days ago, we learned that Rochester, Minnesota wants to be a stop on this high-speed line; officials there formed the Southeast Rail Alliance to get Rochester on the map.

In a press release printed by HometownSource.com, Congressman Jim Oberstar’s office said that portions of the Northern Lights Express could be running next year. What parts? The part that goes to the casino in Hinckley? Hopefully they can open up the southern end of the line for commuters in the northern suburbs.

The Metropolitan Council just submitted a 4,000 page application to the Federal Transit Administration to get funding for the 11-mile, $914.9 million-dollar line between Minneapolis and St. Paul. (That’s about $83 million dollars per mile.)

The Central Corridor light-rail line makes up part of the route I’ll use to get to work from Cambridge via the Northern Lights Express. I’ll get off the Duluth-Minneapolis line in downtown Minneapolis, transfer to light rail and hop off in St. Paul at the Depot.

Ohio wants to connect Cleveland to Cincinnati just like proponents are trying to connect Minneapolis and Duluth.
 

In their effort to educate everyone on the proposed proposed Northern Lights Express rail line, on August 4, Anoka County commissioner Dan Erhart met with the Ham Lake EDA. I wasn’t there, but here are some items I’m sure proponents like him are talking about:

• The line can be payed for with up to 80% federal dollars
• If fast and frequent enough, the line can be self-sustaining or better
• The line will serve both as an inter-city connector and a commuter line
• City (and casino) stops on the line should expect economic growth

On that last point (economic growth at stations), bear in mind that Athens Township EDA and the Cambridge EDA are maneuvering to have the local station stop in their community. According to an article in the STAR newspaper, in Cambridge, the “train line is expected to bring $40-60 million in economic benefits to Cambridge.”

Just a head’s up here about the Minneapolis-Duluth line. At the Anoka County homepage, you can download the 261 page feasibility study (8.1 MB) for the line and a copy of its logo. I plan on reading/skimming the report, so I may have some thoughts in a few days.

What I’m still interested in is the Burlington-Northern Santa Fe study they said they’d finish by May 1. I’m going to try and contact some folks in Anoka County or at BNSF. It will be interesting to see if BNSF comes to the same conclusions as the Minneapolis-Duluth/Superior Passenger Rail Alliance.

The reason this rail line suddenly feels important is news it could cater to commuters in the northern suburbs. I’ll be reading the report … read it too, and let me know what you think.

From page 7 of the report:

A story in the Star Tribune reports that the possible high-speed rail line to Duluth from Minneapolis could cater to commuters. If that’s the case, we’ll get a commuter line when (and if) that line gets going — if not, we can count on a spur off the Northstar Commuter Line (that will run to Big Lake from Minneapolis starting in 2009).

“The proposed high-speed passenger rail line from Minneapolis to Duluth might also double as a commuter line … ”

This is what I suspected would happen all along. It doesn’t make sense to have a rail line running through the northern metro suburbs without having it cater to commuters. I understand it’s not a commuter line, but by prioritizing their runs for commuter timetables, this line could serve double duty.

I wonder if mentioning its commuter-line potential jeopardizes federal funding? The federal government pays 80-20 on intercity lines (Minneapolis to Duluth), but only a 50-50 match for commuter lines (Northstar Commuter Line from Minneapolis to Big Lake). This is great news, though.

I was reading this morning about a company that’s going to make “crude oil” using bacteria. The back story on this is that when the economics change, previously undesirable options start to make sense. Gas is going to cost $4 per gallon into the indefinite future.

People are looking for options and Minnesota doesn’t seem to be moving quickly toward a comprehensive transportation strategy. Options that didn’t make sense before need to get on the table and fast. Commuter rail lines converging on Minneapolis and St. Paul need to be in place. We need to encourage (financially support) a study of high-speed rail between the Twin Cities and Chicago and we need to expedite the Minneapolis-to-Duluth line.

Gas prices reshape state’s transit debate

Even bolder, state leaders should consider expediting already planned or proposed transit projects.

Anoka County Commissioner Dan Erhart, reported April 1 that BNSF would conduct a study of the Minneapolis-to-Duluth line, dubbed the Northern Lights Express, and have it ready by May 1, 2008. It’s June 4, and I’m eager to see what they come up with.