5. EDSR 09-11-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Appendix E: Relevant News Articles (cont.) Copyright 2006 Star Tribune All Rights Reserved Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) July 26, 2006 Wednesday Metro Edition SECTION: NORTH; Pg. 1N LENGTH: 625 words HEADLINE: Fridley rail station delayed; Northstar Commuter Rail's first stop outside downtown Minneapolis will require $9.5 million more BYLINE: Sarah Moran, Staff Writer BODY The Fridley station along the Northstar commuter rail line is on hold until an additional $9.5 million is secured. That money is needed in order for design, engineering and construction work to move forward. Rail critics say it's just the latest in a series of price jumps for the line that now carries a $317 million price tag. Project officials are hopeful the Fridley station will be built and open at the same time as the stations planned for Minneapolis, Coon Rapids, Anoka, Elk River and Big Lake, said Tim Yantos, executive director of the Northstar commuter rail. If the project's remaining federal funding is provided, those stations are set for construction in 2007 and 2008. But it's possible the train will whiz past 61st Way and East River Road in Fridley when the line opens in 2009. Although Fridley is in the contract with the railroad to be built at some point, there is no time frame attached like there is for the other stops. Officials from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, which owns the rail lines and property where stations would be constructed, told Northstar officials during negotiations this spring that they wanted the Fridley stop removed from the line, Yantos said. The reason they gave was the station's proximity to the Northtown Yard, where many of the railroad's freight trains switch tracks. The railroad was concerned the construction and operation of the commuter rail could create delays on their freight lines, Yantos said. The station, he said, presented the most expense and technical challenge During negotiations a deal was reached that kept Fridley in the plans and gave the railroad another $9.5 million, said Steve Billings, Fridley City Council member and Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) executive committee member. "[The money] had to come out of the working capital budget, so now there's not enough money left in the budget to build all the stations," he said. "They essentially moved the money that had been set aside to construct the Fridley station and used that money to pay Burlington Northern." Railroad spokesman Steve Fornsberg said he had "no information on the additional money and how it