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Northstar Corridor Development Authority <br />Regular Meeting Minutes <br />April 1, 2004 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />b) <br /> <br />Elliott Perovich reported the status of the Appropriations Bill. Members of <br />Governor Pawlenty's staff are working for support of the Northstar Corridor and <br />the appropriations bill. <br /> <br />Clifford Greene, Greene Espel, reported on the progress of capital improvement <br />negotiations between NCDA/MnDOT and Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad <br />(BNSF). BNSF has identified $51-$57 million of"core" projects that are non- <br />negotiable. "Negotiable" projects total approximately $38 million which NCDA is <br />optimistic can be reduced or eliminated without compromising customer freight <br />service. The total of BNSF's current estimates of"core" and "negotiable" projects is <br />$89-95 million as compared with its original estimate of $103 million. NCDA/MnDOT <br />and BNSF is prepared to enter into the next phase of negotiations. <br /> <br />Ken Stevens reported that the feasibility studies of potential future stations in the cities <br />of Ramsey and Sauk Rapids are completed in "draft" form. Paul Danielson, Himle <br />Homer, reviewed results of the study. The final report will be made available at the <br />May NCDA meeting. <br /> <br />Ramsey station: The proposed Ramsey station is located at the new Ramsey Town <br />Center where access is readily available. Ridership is projected to increase by 4.3% <br />with the addition of this station resulting in a 2.9% increase in user benefit and an <br />estimated 25,520 additional hours of annual user benefit. Additional information: <br /> <br />Minimal environmental clearance required, <br />Minor track and signal impact, <br />Cost approximately $4.9 million in 2007 dollars, <br />Improves cost effective index (CEI) by $0.24, <br />Station would have a positive impact on the project <br /> <br />Sauk Rapids station: The proposed Sauk Rapids station is located in the current <br />downtown area. Ridership is projected to be minimal with no change to user benefits. <br />However, a Sauk Rapids station would be favorable as a layover facility. Additional <br />information: <br /> <br />Environmental clearance would be required, <br />No significant track and signal impact, <br />Cost approximately $5.9 million in 2007 dollars, <br />Degrades cost effective index <br /> <br /> <br />