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OCT 02 '01 16:52 TO-7639417425 FROH-RICHARDSON,RITCHER &ASSOC. T-5@1 P.07/10 F-862 <br /> <br /> IIORTIISTAR <br />CORRIDOR <br /> <br />F'~ T~p <br /> <br />October 2, 2001 <br /> <br />MEMO TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Executive CommJtteelNCDA Members <br /> <br />Commissioner Paul McCarron, NCDA Intergovernmental Liaison <br />Mn/DOT Action to Terminate the Northstar Corridor at Big Lake <br /> <br />On Friday, September 28, 2001, we were informed that Mn/DOT submitted to the <br />Federal Transit Administration (FTA) the Northstar Corridor Rail Project New <br />Starts Criteria. The documentation was submitted by Mn/DOT without the review <br />and advice of the Northstar Executive Committee or the CRCCC (the committee <br />established by law to advise Mn/DOT on issues relating to the Northstar Corridor). <br /> <br />It is important to note that the New Starts Criteria is the information used by the <br />FTA to rate projects for recommendation for funding by Congress. I was informed <br />on Friday that the information submitted to the FTA significantly modifies the <br />definition of the Northstar project. Mn/DOT seems to have unilaterally changed <br />the project as follows: <br /> <br />1) <br /> <br />The terminus of the project is now Big Lake, not Rice (a 40 mile <br />corridor, not an 82 mile corridor). <br /> <br />2) <br /> <br />The completion date of the project is now December 31, 2005, not <br />December 31. 2004. <br /> <br />3) <br /> <br />The capital costs of the project appears to have been reduced only <br />slightly. <br /> <br />4) <br /> <br />Mn/DOT has chosen to delay the Request to Enter Final Design until <br />early 2002, not September 2001. <br /> <br />As you may recall, on May 3, 2001, the NCDA adopted Resolution 2001-04, <br />which defined the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Northstar Final <br />Environmental Impact Study (ELS). This action was taken by the NCDA as joint <br />lead agency with Mn/DOT. The Locally Preferred Alternative and the FEIS <br />defined the corridor as an 82 mile corridor extending from Rice to Minneapolis. <br />The decision was made based on technical analysis showing that the entire route <br />is viable and cost effective. <br /> <br /> Northstar Corridor Development Authority <br />2100 3r~ Avenue, Anoka, Minneaota 55303-2265 (363) 323-5700 Fax: (763) 323-5692 <br /> <br />www. northstarrrain.org <br /> <br /> <br />