4.2. SR 06-17-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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FACT Operating and capital costs for Northstar are over $5,630. O0 per passenger per year. Borrowing a phrase from President George W. Bush (a Northstar Corridor commuter rail supporter), this number represents "fuzzy math." The number is just plain wrong. This distorted cost estimate, promoted by the Taxpayer's League, uses a convoluted set of assumptions and methodology that is not recognized by anyone in the transportation field, whether private industry or government. The industry standard used to compare cost effectiveness of transit options is "operating cost per passenger mile" as shown on page one. For the past five years, the local governments that make up the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) used the federal cost guidelines and analysis mandated by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to study transportation alternatives in the Northstar Corridor. The result is that the FTA has ranked Northstar as one of five most promising proposed rail projects in the country, and it is included in President Bush's budget. So what is the correct number? It depends on how many people you think will benefit from Northstar commuter rail. · $35 per person per year. The NCDA feels the 422,100 residents of the Northstar Corridor will benefit from access to a sensible transportation system, a drop in the growth of traffic congestion, better service from businesses using Highway 10/47, increased economic development and less pollution from car exhaust. · $546 per person. If just the riders will benefit from using the service, and users of Highway 10 benefit from less traffic on the highway. · $1,647 per year. If just riders of commuter rail are counted as beneficiaries. All Minnesota legislators, especially those in rural Minnesota, should be highly cautious about accepting the cost analysis used to criticize the Northstar project. Using these assumptions, many worthy highway projects, especially road projects in rural Minnesota, would never be able to compete for funding against shorter length/higher traffic routes in the Twin Cities metro area. FACT Northstar commuter rail will not reduce congestion. By taking nearly 10,000 cars off the roads each day, users of Northstar commuter rail will make room for nearly 11/2 lanes of traffic on the highways during times of peak congestion - the time you need relief the most. The population growth numbers for this corridor are staggering. By 2025, the St. Cloud area will grow by nearly 50% and Sherburne County's population will increase by 92%. Commuter rail will slow congestion growth and will provide a cost-effective transportation alternative for future new corridor residents. p. 2 May 9, 2002