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AUG 03 '04 18:01 T0-7636351090 FROH-RICHARDSON, R[CHTER& ASSOCIATES T-241 P,11/18 F-503 <br /> <br />i~ONNUTER IMIL <br /> <br />NEWS RELEASE <br /> <br />For Immediate Release <br />AuguGt 3, 2004 <br /> <br />Contact: Tim Yantos <br /> 7~3-32.~-5§92 <br /> <br />Northstar Corridor Development Authority Applauds Governor <br /> Pawlenty's Plan to Move Forward on Northstar <br /> <br />ELK RIVER, Minn. - Leaders of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority <br />(NCDA) voiced strong enthusiasm today for Governor Pawlenty's plan to <br />continue work on the Northstar Commuter Rail project. <br /> <br />"Governor Pawlenty is showing very positive leadership with this proposal," said <br />Dan Erhart, Chair of the Anoka County Board and member of tt~e NCDA. "His <br />plan will allow us to keep moving Northstar forward on schedule while we also <br />work to secure legislative funding in a state bonding bill later this year or in <br />2005." <br /> <br />The Northstar project was a critical element of the Governor's Capital Investment <br />recommendations to the 2004 Minnesota Legislature. State funding is necessary <br />to supplement local government funds already committed to Northstar. Together <br />these funds will be used to access a 50 percent federal match under the New <br />Starts process for transit funding. When the legislative session adjourned <br />without action on the Capital investment bill, Nortl~star Commuter Rail was one of <br />many projects left without state funding. <br /> <br />Under the Governor's plan, using both Met CouncR funds and a portion of the <br />local government funds already committed for the Northstar project, the NCDA <br />can move forward with critical project design, property acquisition and work with <br />the BNSF railroad needed to stay on schedule for a 2008 start date for commuter <br />rail. <br /> <br />"The funding will be used for additional engineering, design and some right-of- <br />way acquisition for the Northstar project, as well as continuing negotiations with <br />Burlington Northern Santa Fe on a capital improvement agreement," explained <br />Tim Yantos, project director for Northstar Commuter Rail and the NCDA. "By <br />keeping this work moving, we can hopefully prevent a year's delay and avoid <br />higher project costs due to inflation - this plan is a win-win for taxpayers and <br />future users of the Northstar Commuter Rail service." <br /> <br />- more - <br /> <br /> <br />