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Nor. S, hie 2 <br /> <br />in my experier~ce in the I_egislature, no sir~gle transportation project has received <br />as muctl scrutiny prior to a legislative clecisk3r~ man Northstar Commuter Rail. <br />This project has been at the center of the transportation funding and bonding <br />d~scusslons for me past two sessions, and received hearings and extensive <br />debate for at least two sass[ohS ptior to that. Unlike many transit and highway <br />projects. Northstar Commuter Rail truly has received extensive debate regarding <br />its cost-effectiveness and the benefits Iii(ely to be realized by ~e State. <br /> <br />Continued negotiations with BNSF are critical to clarify the capital co~s. BNSF <br />I~as opera!ecl in 9oocl faitt~ thrOulal~0u! ~[$ process - they are tough negotiators. <br />After all, no rail company is likely to reach a final agreement until both sides know <br />the final engineerin~ results, the likely constructinn date for t~e project and the <br />total amount of funding available for improvements. The NCDA has also <br />c~pecatecl itl goocl fei!lq, tqas Cleveiopecl a cost estimate based on proliminary <br />engineering, artcl lies built in a substantial c~¢~in~lency budget. The two cost <br />~timat~$ represent me range or parametem o! tl~e upcoming negotia~ns that <br />must take place now to close the 9ap and identify the necessae/ improvements <br />lo me railrOad. <br /> <br />Each year, representatives of tl~e NCDA Ilave testified before legi..C,,lative <br />comr~ittees on the progress of BN~F dlscuss,ons. Tills past sessior~, at me <br />urging of Governor Pawlent¥, the Minnesota Leg;sis!ute directed MnDOT and trio <br />NCDA to form a working group to review the Key outstanding issues regaling <br />Northstar, including issues with BNSF. <br /> <br />L~eutenant Govsmor Carol Moinau, in her role as Transportation Commissioner, <br />ask, ecl tl~e NCDA to manage the next phase of discussions with BNSF. The <br />NCDA is currently retaining Drofessional counsel to n~otia~e with BNS~: and <br />pro!ecl the interests of lhe State of M;~nesota, ~e taxpayers and tile 30 local <br />anita of government that constitute the NCDA. By January 1§, 2004, the NCDA <br />and BNSF are expectecl to have narrowed ~l~e outstancling issues anti provide a <br />report to the Governor and the Legislatuee on their progress. <br /> <br />Your opposition [o Norths.uar Commuter Rail is well ¢o~umentecl, and I <br />,,nclerstand that even aft.~r e ~ccessfu~ ageeemen[ wi~ BNSF, you are unlikely <br />to change your position. So ~vhat is ~ plan tg relieve eo~lge~tlen in the <br />Northstar corridor? <br /> <br />Thus far, no one has disputes !list: <br /> <br />Rapid bus transit would cost nearly 60% more to bt4ilCl arid operate <br />over the next 15 years tttan NOrthstar, and that assume~ tlqat <br />clown[own Minneapolis can hancl]e more buses on tlqeir congested <br />rush hour streets <br /> <br />90'd 0~,:9'[ £0, 9 ^oN ~:89S-£~:<;'-£9Z-6:xeJ AINI"I03 U;>IONU <br /> <br /> <br />