5.3. SR 11-16-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION The Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) is evaluating transportation improvements in the 70-mile TH10/47 corridor from downtown Minneapolis to the St. Cloud area. The purpose of the Northstar Corridor Major Investment Study (MIS) is to develop a locally preferred transportation invesstment strategy for the corridor. A major component of the analysis is to determine the feasibility of commuter rail service in the Corridor. The Northstar Corridor study area extends from downtown Minneapolis to the St. Cloud area along TH 10/47, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad. The study area is bordered by the Mississippi River on the west and extends approximately 3-5 miles to the east of TH 10/47. The Goal of the Project is: To Meet the Future Transportation Needs of the Northstar Corridor. 1.1 Twin Cities Metropolitan Commuter Rail Study At the request of the State legislature, the Minnesota Department of Transportation 0VInfDOT) initiated a Twin Cities Metropolitan Commuter Rail Study in September to determine if commuter rail can provide a viable transportation option for the 1997 the seven-county metropolitan area. Mn/DOT looked at all existing freight corridors to determine which corridors demonstrated the potential for commuter rail service. The Study is being conducted in two phases. Phase I assessed current freight operations, identified institutional opportunities/barriers and conducted a market analysis to determine the public's likelihood of using such a service. A total of 19 commuter rail corridors emanating from the two downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul were identified and evaluated. Evaluation criteria included ridership estimates, conditions of the rail bed, tracks and crossings, effects on land use and the environment, safety issues and the number of rail freight carders in each corridor. Phase I was completed in January 1998 and recommended six corridors for further study. Since the Minnesota legislature added one corridor, a total of seven corridors are being evaluated in Phase II. Phase II will determine economic, financial, social, and environmental effects, infrastructure needs, transportation impacts and a potential operating plan for rail service. The criteria being used in Phase II includes a more detailed study of potential ridership, maintenance and operating costs, cost per passenger mile, environmental impacts, the ability of freight carders to conduct their regular business and the level of capital improvements. Phase II will be completed in January 1999. The corridors that are being evaluated further are: · Route A: Bethel to Minneapolis and St. Paul on a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) route, 39.4 miles · Route B: Elk River to Minneapolis and St. Paul on a BNSF route, 40.7 miles · Route N: Hastings to St. Paul and Minneapolis on a Canadian Pacific Rail (CPR) route, 29.9 miles · Route S: Forest Lake to St. Paul and Minneapolis on CPR and BNSF routes, 36.3 miles · Route L: Northfield to Minneapolis and St. Paul on CPR and BNSF routes, 58.2 miles · Route H: Norwood -Young America to Minneapolis and St. Paul on the Twin Cities & Western (TC&W) route, 47.9 miles · Route T: A route, common to all corridors, between the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul on BNSF and CPR, 9.9 miles Northstar Corridor Major Investment Study Section 1 - Introduction 10-28-98 1-1