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Times Online - Local Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />Local <br /> <br />Amhive <br />Next S~W. <br />Previous Story <br /> <br />Email this story <br /> <br />Subscribe Now! <br /> <br />Special Sections <br /> Election 2003 <br /> R~ycling 2003 <br /> Ceansus 2000 <br /> <br />Central Minnesota local news for 4 November, 2003 <br /> <br />4 November, 2003 <br />House committee chaiman questions <br />Northstar rail's cost <br />Kirsti Marohn <br />Staff Writer <br /> <br />ST. PAUL -- A key lavauaker claimed Monday that proponents of Northstar <br />commuter rail have low-balled the project's true cost to win support for state <br />funding. <br /> <br />More News <br /> Business_ <br /> Entertainment <br /> Life <br /> <br /> Obituaries <br /> Opinion <br /> Sports <br /> Nation/World <br /> <br />.~t~J~cl W_eamer <br /> Temp; 33 *F <br /> ~ Lo: 27 ~F <br /> <br />Related Links <br /> GoifCoursep_ <br /> Toy, m Tour <br /> G~s Price W~tch <br /> <br />School <br /> <br />Other Links <br /> Jobs <br /> glassifieds <br /> Real Es.L~.e_ <br /> Aparm!~ <br /> <br /> .Contact Us <br /> <br />Rep. Phil Krinkie, chairm~ of thc House Capittl Investment Committee, <br />called a news conference in St. Paul with other House Republicans opposed <br />to coramuter rail. Krinkic will compile the 2004 House bonding bill, which <br />Northstar supporters hope will include money for their project. <br /> <br />Krinkie, R-Shoreview, said Monday's message was that complete and <br />accurate numbers are needed before deliberations can start on whether the <br />project is worth it. <br /> <br />He cited an Oct. 24 letter from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, <br />which owns the railroad between Rice and Minneapolis. The letter to a <br />Minnesota Depar~ent of Transportation official estimates the cost to <br />upgrade the tracks and signals will be $144 million in 2007. <br /> <br />MnDOT has estimated the cost for improvements at $60 million, said Mike <br />Schadauer, project manager. MnDOT's budget also includes a $40 million <br />confingmcy, he said. MnDOT is still negotiating with BNSF. <br /> <br />Northstar supporter Sen. Dave Kleis, R-St. Cloud, said Krlnkie's cri~cism <br />should have waited until the Federal Transit Administration completes a <br />report on North~tar's costs and benefits later this year. Gev. Tim Pawlenty <br />requested the FTA report and said he will use it to decide whether to support <br />the project. <br /> <br />Allstate, <br />Kinne <br />Home. Au~ <br />Mc. <br /> <br />Casey's C <br /> S_t_o~.~ <br /> Pizza cou <br /> <br />.Qobom C <br /> Ceme <br /> <br /> ~pecializ~ <br /> <br />~amily <br />;Or. ~ason l <br />Now <br /> patien <br /> <br />Belie~ <br /> <br />HealthPa! <br />Control co: <br /> employ <br /> <br />presen <br /> <br />http://miva.sctimes.com/miva/cgi-bin/m/va?CMN/Locab'read.mv+20031 ! 04150806+8+ 11/04/2003 <br /> 170'd 8I:9'[ £0, 9 ,".ON E,89<:S-':;'~Si:-g'9.,,-6:xe._-I Xll'~O3 U),iBNU <br /> <br /> <br />