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STATE OF MINNESOTA <br />OFFICE OF.GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY <br />13o State Capitol, Saint Paul, MN 55~55 <br /> <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: <br />January 13, 2004 <br /> <br />Contact: Leslie Kupchella <br /> (651) 296-0001 <br /> <br />GOVERNOR PAWLENTY FUNDS NORTHSTAR COMMUTER RAIL AS <br />PART OF $85.5 MILLION TRANSPORTATION BONDING PROPOSAL <br />~ Cedar Avenue busway, local roads and bridges receive funding ~ <br /> <br />Anoka -Govemor Tim Pawlenty today announced that funding for the Northstar Corridor <br />commuter rail line will be included in his 2004 bonding proposal. In addition, the Governor's <br />transportation bonding plan includes funding for $38 million in local roads and bridges as well as <br />$10 million for the Cedar Avenue busway. <br /> <br />"We're choking on congestion," said Governor Pawlenty. "This past year, we made the largest <br />infusion of road-building funds in history. Now, we need to also look at expanded transit <br />opportunities. The plan we're announcing today is progress on all fronts." <br /> <br />The Northstar commuter rail line utilizes mostly existing rail lines. It will connect downtown <br />Minneapolis to communities along a forty mile stretch to Big Lake, including Fridley, Anoka and <br />Elk River. Initial estimates are that the Northstar line will save 892,000 commuter hours per <br />year through improved travel times over the next best transit option. <br /> <br />Governor Pawlenty added, "The fast-growing corridor between Minneapolis and St. Cloud needs <br />congestion relief and more commuter options. This project will help." <br /> <br />The Governor's plan includes an initial $37.5 million state investment for the Northstar <br />Commuter Rail to be matched by $37.5 million in local funding commitments. The funds will <br />catapult the project into the next phase, which is the Federal Transit Authority's (FTA) approval <br />process for final design. The total'cost of the project is estimated to be at least $265 million, of <br />which the federal government will pay half of the total cost. In making his announcement, <br />Governor Pawlenty praised local officials for their willingness to take on a larger portion of the <br />cost than earlier proposed, saying it shows a "uniquely strong local commitment to this project." <br /> <br />In July 2003, Governor Pawlenty asked the FTA to conduct an independent, objective analysis of <br />the Northstar Commuter Rail to determine the plan's cost effectiveness. Since then, the corridor <br />has undergone intense scrutiny and substantial changes in order to meet FTA requirements. <br /> <br />- -more- - <br /> <br /> <br />