Northstar Corridor Development Authority Approves Study of Future Commuter Rail Extension to Becker, St. Cloud and Rice

The Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) agreed Thursday afternoon to fund a feasibility study of the second phase of Northstar Commuter Rail, which would extend the line in the future from Big Lake to Becker, St. Cloud and Rice.

“When we began our planning for the state’s first commuter rail line nearly 10 years ago, substantial demand existed for a transportation alternative for commuters north of Big Lake as well as south,” said NCDA Chair Dan Erhart. “This feasibility study will provide us the information we need to begin the approval process of the next phase.”

In 2003, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued more stringent cost-benefit requirements for funding new transit projects. To meet those requirements and improve its likelihood of receiving federal matching funds, the Northstar project was scaled back to its current “Phase One” route from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis.

Phase One of the project will begin construction this summer. The NCDA anticipates receiving approval for final federal matching funds this year so that Northstar can open for service in late 2009. Plans for an eventual Phase Two currently include potential stations in Becker, East St. Cloud and Rice.

Thursday’s NCDA decision commits $128,000 toward a preliminary feasibility study, which will be reviewed by the Northstar Phase Two committee and eventually the full NCDA board. The study will take three to four months and will analyze:

• Updates to estimated ridership numbers, including those from a potential reverse commute from Minneapolis to St. Cloud
• Potential environmental issues, their cost and impact on commuter rail schedules
• Issues that may arise during negotiations with BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) for use of its train tracks
• Potential station designs
• A layover facility at East St. Cloud or Rice
• Current FTA guidelines for funding

Also this week, Stearns County commissioners voted to join the NCDA board, insuring that Stearns County will have an active voice at the table as construction of Northstar begins and planning continues for the future of the state’s first commuter rail line.

At the Capitol this session, State Representative Larry Haws (DFL-St. Cloud) and State Senator Tarryl Clark (DFL-St. Cloud) have introduced legislation that requests $250,000 in state funding for:

• Preliminary engineering and environmental review for Phase Two
• Negotiations with BNSF for the use of its tracks
• Property appraisals

“Though many people consider this Phase Two of Northstar, I’d prefer to call it the rest of Phase One,” said Representative Haws.

The NCDA Phase Two committee is chaired by Sherburne County Commissioner and NCDA Member Felix Schmiesing, who said his committee is starting its work now because of continued demand from residents across the region and state.

“It has taken us a decade to get Northstar’s Phase One going,” Schmiesing said. “Residents in the Northstar Corridor don’t want to wait that long for a smarter and more reliable transportation option in the St. Cloud area.”