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rT' <br /> <br />lie <br /> <br />NEWSPAPER OF THE TWIN CITIES <br /> <br /> Saturday <br />DECEMBER 18, 1999 <br /> <br />Commuter rail, <br />the other line, <br />is taking shape <br /> <br />Propnsed <br />commuter- <br />ra~ stations ?i'.: :.' <br /> <br />Proposed <br />commuter- <br />rail route <br /> <br />A St. Cloud-to-Minneapolis line <br />could be in operation by 2005. <br />By Laurie Blake "' <br />Star Tribune Staff Writer <br /> <br /> While the public spotlight has been focused on <br />the Twin Cities area's first light-rail line, work on <br />the region's first commuter-rail line has been chug- <br />ging ahead quietly. <br /> Now, after three years of study and design, thb <br />proposed 80-mile Northstar line is about to pull <br />into view for serious scrutiny. <br /> The plan is to run 18 passenger trains a day on <br /> existing freight tracks between St. Cloud and Min- <br /> neapolis. Four counties, 15 cities and four town- <br /> ships along the route are pushing the project with <br /> hopes of starting service by 2003, the same year <br /> light-rail service is expected to begin'along Hiawa- <br /> tha Avenue in Minneapolis. <br /> <br />RAIL continues on kl.7: <br />-- Prospects for state funding are unclear. <br /> <br />ALSO INSIDE: <br /> <br />Four big-name construction <br />compcmies are chosen to con- <br />tinue bids for light-rail con- <br />tract. B3 <br /> <br /> <br />