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Construction under way on Big Lake maintenance facility

The region’s next rail transit project — Northstar commuter rail — is moving ahead toward an opening date of service in late 2009.

The project’s application for a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) has entered the final stretch of the federal approval process in Washington.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget both approved the agreement in mid-October, which sent it into a 60-day review with Congress. The agreement will secure approximately $156.8 million of federal funding for construction and trains.

Groundbreaking ceremony held in Big Lake

“To reach the numerous milestones leading up to today, cooperation has been essential, not only within the Northstar Corridor, but also with our partners at the Metropolitan Council, Governor Tim Pawlenty, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Minnesota’s congressional delegation,” said Dan Erhart, chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA).

The NCDA is a joint powers board made up of counties, regional railroad authorities, cities and townships along the corridor that have been advocating for commuter rail for a decade. “Because we’re persistent, Minnesotans will be able to ride the line in 2009,” Erhart said.

More than 150 local officials and guests turned out for a ceremonial groundbreaking at a new vehicle maintenance facility in Big Lake on September 6. Big Lake is the second major construction site on the line. Work began in mid-July on a new intermodal station that will link Northstar with Hiawatha light-rail transit (LRT) near the new Minnesota Twins ballpark in downtown Minneapolis.

Initial ridership estimated at 4,100

The 40-mile Northstar line will travel on existing tracks between Big Lake and downtown Minneapolis, parallel to the heavily congested Highway 10. Trains are expected to provide 4,100 rides during weekday rush hours in the first year of operation, growing to nearly 5,900 rides in 2030. Limited service will be provided on weekends and for some special events.

Capital costs of $320 million are to be shared by federal, state and local authorities (50, 33 and 17 percent, respectively). Hennepin, Anoka and Sherburne counties, and the Metropolitan Council are sharing the local costs. The Council will own the facilities and rolling stock, and oversee operations.

Construction under way on Hiawatha extension

Even though Northstar tracks are in place, there’s plenty of construction that must be done before the line opens for service. Some of that construction is in downtown Minneapolis, related to the extension of Hiawatha LRT:

• A bridge over I-394 and a bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks must be adapted for rail.
• New track will be laid between the Warehouse District station and the ballpark station.
• New catenary lines (for overhead electric power for LRT) will be installed.
• The Minnesota Twins will construct a two-story building at the ballpark to allow Northstar and Hiawatha passengers to transfer.
• Storage tracks will be built at the ballpark to accommodate additional trains used for special events.

In mid-September, the Council advertised for bids for station construction, and hopes to award the contract by year’s end. Stations are proposed for Big Lake, Elk River, Anoka, Coon Rapids and Minneapolis.

The Council awarded a contract for the remanufacture of four locomotives for Northstar. The Council has received proposals for new passenger coaches; a contract is expected to be awarded later this year.