Northstar Minneapolis Construction Update - May 7, 2008

The Northstar Commuter Rail Project is scheduled to begin a new phase of road, sidewalk and light rail construction the week of Monday, May 12. This phase of construction will primarily take place on 5th Street North between 1st and 3rd Avenues North and involve street and sidewalk removal and reconstruction as well as the installation of light rail track segments. This work is part of the Northstar Project’s LRT Connection, a four-block extension of the Hiawatha Light Rail Line that will meet up with the Northstar commuter rail line outside of the future Twins Ballpark.

Northstar Construction Update - May 6, 2008

This week, work continues on the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Connection in downtown Minneapolis,
the Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) in Big Lake, and commuter rail stations in Big Lake,
Anoka and Coon Rapids. Details on upcoming construction activities are included below.

DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS – LRT CONNECTION

• Work continues on the LRT platform on the 5th Street North bridge over the BNSF tracks.
• Electrical utility work will take place in the intersection of 5th Street North and 3rd Avenue North.
• Crews are scheduled to do a bridge pour on the south half of the 5th Street North bridge over I-394.
• Pedestrian access to the southwest sidewalk corner at 5th Avenue North and 2nd Avenue North and the southeast sidewalk corner at 5th Avenue and 3rd Avenue are closed for Northstar construction.
• Soil correction work at the site of the downtown commuter rail station continues.

CITY OF COON RAPIDS – NORTHSTAR STATION (RIVERDALE PARK-AND-RIDE)

• Construction crews are scheduled to begin installing temporary fencing at the south end of the Riverdale park-and-ride on Monday, May 5. The bus boarding area will be temporarily relocated to the southwest end of the lot.
• Construction of a temporary parking surface immediately to the north of the Riverdale park-and-ride has been completed and is open for use. This additional on-site parking will help mitigate the loss of parking from construction activities and staging.
• Survey work is scheduled to begin the week of Monday, May 5 on the southwest side of the BNSF train tracks. This work is being done to prepare for construction of a maintenance access road between 119th Avenue and the area across from the Riverdale park-and-ride lot. All access road work will take place within BNSF right-of-way.

CITY OF ANOKA – NORTHSTAR STATION (JOHNSON STREET AND 4TH AVENUE)

• Trucks will be hauling materials across 4th Avenue toward the site of the future Northstar
  commuter rail station. There are no anticipated significant traffic impacts related to this
  work, but motorists should be watchful for trucks and heavy equipment in the area.

CITY OF BIG LAKE – NORTHSTAR STATION (HWY 10 AND CTY RD 43) AND VMF

• Work on the Big Lake station platform and future park-and-ride lot continues.
• Interior piping and ductwork installation will continue in the VMF.
• Track installation outside of the VMF continues.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Northstar Project, please contact Jonathan
Blake at 651-366-5840 or by e-mail at jonathan.blake@mnrail.org or visit Northstar online at
www.mn-GetOnBoard.com.

Northstar Commuter Rail Project Breaks Ground for Big Lake Station

All Northstar stations to be complete in time for late 2009 start of commuter rail service

Public officials and supporters of Northstar Commuter Rail gathered today to break ground for the Big Lake Station, which will be located south of Highway 10 and the BNSF Railway train tracks and along County Road 43.

Coon Rapids Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Beginning of Station Construction in Northstar Corridor

Stations to be complete in time for late 2009 start of Northstar Commuter Rail service

Public officials and supporters of Northstar Commuter Rail gathered today to break ground for the Coon Rapids-Riverdale commuter rail station, located on Northdale Boulevard, south of Main Street.

Construction also will get underway over the next several months at Northstar stations in Big Lake, Elk River, Anoka and downtown Minneapolis. Preparation work for the Minneapolis station and the extension of the Hiawatha Light Rail Transit Line to meet up with Northstar in downtown Minneapolis began last summer. In addition, construction on the vehicle maintenance facility in Big Lake is well underway.

The groundbreaking ceremony in Coon Rapids is an occasion to celebrate the tremendous progress on the project, according to Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) Chair Dan Erhart.

“Making the Northstar Project a reality has taken the dedication of officials from Coon Rapids and other Northstar Corridor communities, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Council, and federal and state policy makers,” Erhart said. “Today, we see our persistence paying off. Now let’s all get ready to ride the line in 2009!”

Northstar Construction Update - April 23, 2008

This week, work continues on the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Connection in downtown Minneapolis, the Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) in Big Lake, and commuter rail stations in Big Lake, Anoka and Coon Rapids. Details on upcoming construction activities are included below.

DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS – LRT CONNECTION

• Construction crews will be pouring medians and curbs on the south half of the 5th Street North bridge over the BNSF train tracks. The south half of the bridge is being prepared for exclusive use by the Hiawatha LRT line.
• Electrical work beneath the 5th Street North bridge over the BNSF tracks will conclude this week.
• Crews will be doing rebar work on the deck of the south half of the 5th Street North bridge over I-394.
• Soil correction work at the site of the downtown commuter rail station continues.
• Pedestrian access to the southwest sidewalk corner at 5th Avenue North and 2nd Avenue North will be closed later this week. Crews will be setting up traffic control for the future removal and reconstruction of the sidewalk.

CITY OF COON RAPIDS – NORTHSTAR STATION (RIVERDALE PARK-AND-RIDE)

• Construction of a temporary parking surface immediately to the north of the Riverdale park-and-ride is scheduled to begin later this week. This additional on-site parking will help mitigate the loss of parking from construction staging and activities.
• Survey work is scheduled to begin in early May on the southwest side of the BNSF train tracks. This work is being done to prepare for construction of a maintenance access road between 119th Avenue and the area across from the Riverdale park-and-ride lot. All access road work will take place within BNSF right-of-way.

CITY OF ANOKA – NORTHSTAR STATION (JOHNSON STREET AND 4TH AVENUE)

• Site preparation and clearing and grubbing work began last week.
• Trucks will be hauling materials across 4th Avenue toward the site of the future Northstar commuter rail station. There are no anticipated significant traffic impacts related to this work, but motorists should be watchful for trucks and heavy equipment in the area.
• Crews may begin construction activities on the west end of 5th Avenue as early as this week. However, access to 5th Avenue buildings will be maintained throughout
  construction.

CITY OF BIG LAKE – NORTHSTAR STATION (HWY 10 AND COUNTY RD 43) AND VMF

• Temporary fencing has been installed at the Big Lake commuter rail station site. Work on the platform and parking area will continue this week.
• Interior piping and ductwork installation will continue in the VMF.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Northstar Project, please contact Jonathan
Blake at 651-366-5840 or by e-mail at jonathan.blake@mnrail.org or visit Northstar online at
http://mn-getonboard.com/.