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Commuter Rail: <br /> <br />A Cost- and Time-Effective Option <br /> <br />Population and congestion are growing steadily in the <br />Northstar Corridor and the time commuters spend in <br />their cars is growing, too. Workers, students, veterans <br />and others are finding that their 10 or 15 minute <br />commute now takes two or three times longer. And, <br />with our population expected to continue its rapid <br />growth for the next 20 to 30 years, imagine what traffic <br />will be like then! Who among us hasn't sat in traffic <br />that's crawling along and said, "This is ridiculous. <br />Something has to be done!" The 'something' we need is <br />commuter rail. <br /> <br />In order to remain a vibrant, growing community, we <br />need an integrated, multi-modal approach to <br />transportation. Current roads need to be upgraded and <br />new roads need to be built. Unfortunately, it takes <br /> <br />time - sometimes decades - to add more lanes or build <br />new highways. Sometimes it can take so long to build <br />them that by the time they open up they are already <br />obsolete. <br /> <br />This is why Northstar commuter rail is such a great idea. <br />In less than 4 years, we can have a commuter rail system <br />up and running that will free up as much as 1½ lanes of <br />traffic when congestion is at its worst - during the <br />morning and evening rush hours. Those that take the <br />train can be confident that they will arrive at their <br />destinations on time and relaxed - the comfortable seats <br />are ideal for catching up on work or grabbing a <br />little shuteye. Those that don't ride the train will see <br />the benefit of having nearly 10,000 cars off the roads <br />each day. <br /> <br />The Northstar Corridor is an 80-mile transportation corridor that hms along highways <br />10 and 47 fi.om downtown Minneapolis to the St. Cloud/Rice area. For the past few <br />years, this area has been the fastest growing corridor in the state. In the next thirty <br />years, that growth is projected to continue. With no new roads planned and few <br />upgrades trader way, the Northstar commuter rail project provides a transportation <br />alternative for this busy travel route between the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. <br /> <br />Frequently Asked Questions About Northstar Commuter Rail <br /> <br />Q. How long will it take to go from St. Cloud to <br />downtown Minneapolis? <br />A. It will take about 90 minutes. Right now, if there is <br />no traffic, it takes about the same time in a car. If it <br />snows or someone has a flat tire, however, it can take <br />hours. <br /> <br />Q. How much will it cost? <br />A. The full commute from St. Cloud to Minneapolis will <br />cost approximately $10 one way. By comparison, the <br />American Automobile Association, using the most <br />conservative assumptions, estimates that it costs about <br />$36 to drive the same distance (including gas, mileage, <br />and other depreciation expenses). <br /> <br />Q. Where will it stop? <br />A. Rice, St. Cloud, Becker, Big Lake, Elk River, Anoka, <br />Coon Rapids (2 stops), Fridley, Northeast and downtown <br />Minneapolis, where it will connect with the light rail and <br />bus system. <br /> <br />Q. What can I do to help? <br />A. Call or write your state representative and state <br />senator! To find out who they are and to learn <br />more about the project, you can go to <br />www.mn-GetOnBoard.com and sign up as a supporter. <br />You will receive updates on project activities, status <br />reports on legislation and other news about the project. <br />You can also help by writing letters to the editor of your <br />local paper. <br /> <br /> <br />