4.1. SR 07-17-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CORRIBOR FoR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ken Kaffine 612/346-6321 NORTHSTAR CORRIDOR AUTHORIZED TO ENTER PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING Federal Approval Is Major Step Forward For Commuter Rail Line ANOKA, Minn., June 28, 2000 -- The proposed commuter rail line between the St. Cloud/Rice area and dOwntown Minneapolis received approval by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to enter the project into the preliminary engineering phase. The move allows the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) to continue planning for the proposed 80-mile commuter rail route. "This is one more major step forward for commuter rail in Minnesota," said NCDA Board Chair Betsy Wergin. "By giving the Northstar Corridor a 'recommended' rating and approval, the FTA is saying this project makes sense and should proceed. We've passed another important milestone on our way to making commuter rail a reality." Transit projects that receive federal funds must obtain approval from the FTA before entering preliminary engineering. Factors considered in the rating of projects include project readiness, overall project justification and local financial commitment. The preliminary engineering phase involves the engineering of various elements of the project, up to about 30 percent of completion. For the Northstar Corridor this phase will include engineering of the station sites, rail improvements, park-and-fide facilities, and train maintenance facilities. In addition to project engineering, preliminary engineering will define the impact of commuter rail on existing transportation services, such as buses; refine ridership estimates; develop a detailed financial plan including a 20-year cash flow analysis that covers capital and operating funds; and designate the project's management and operating entity. (more)