Pedestrian Tunnel Construction Set to Begin at Site

Preparation work for the future Northstar Commuter Rail station in Fridley is getting underway. Crews will begin building a pedestrian tunnel at the site (near Main Street and 60th Avenue) during the Memorial Day weekend.

The timing of construction with the holiday weekend allows crews to begin infrastructure work on the tunnel with less disruption to BNSF freight traffic. The tunnel will be completed for pedestrian use at a later date. The Anoka County Regional Railroad Authority is paying for the $1.5 million construction of the tunnel and the Fridley Housing and Redevelopment Authority has acquired land for the east side park-and-ride lot at the site.

Construction of and service at a Northstar station in Fridley remains deferred until additional funding is secured.

The Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) continues to see the importance of the Fridley station, according to Anoka County Commissioner Dan Erhart, chair of the NCDA.

“We hope to have it built and operational as soon as possible,” Erhart said. “Beginning the preparatory construction for the station now will allow us to keep construction costs down, lessen the impact on BNSF train traffic and allow construction of the Fridley station to proceed more quickly once funding can be secured.”

The Fridley station was included in the original plans for Northstar Commuter Rail. However, the NCDA was forced to defer the station because of cost considerations. Efforts to secure about $10 million in state bonding to build the station have been unsuccessful. Local officials will continue to seek funding sources to complete the station as soon as possible.

Elsewhere along the Northstar Corridor, construction is underway on the remaining commuter rail stations, which will be complete when Northstar opens for service in late 2009. Knutson Construction of Minneapolis has begun work on stations in Big Lake, Coon Rapids and Anoka. Elk River station construction will begin late this summer. Work is also continuing on the Downtown Minneapolis Ballpark Station and the extension of the Hiawatha Light Rail Line, which will connect with Northstar at the site of the new Twins’ ballpark. Hiawatha light rail trains will provide connecting service to the Metrodome, Mall of America and airport. Crews are meanwhile working indoors on the Northstar Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Big Lake, where the day-to-day maintenance and testing of Northstar trains will take place.

About the Northstar Commuter Rail Project
Northstar Commuter Rail will provide service starting in late 2009 on the 40-mile segment of existing track along Highways 10 and 47 from Big Lake to Minneapolis. Northstar trains will offer commuter service during prime morning and evening week day rush hours, as well as regular weekend service and some special event service.

The Northstar Corridor Development Authority (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 80-mile stretch from downtown Minneapolis to St. Cloud.

For more information about the Northstar Commuter Rail Project, please visit www.mn-GetOnBoard.com.