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PROGRESS PARTNER <br /> titt <br /> April 2005 The Light Industrial Hub of the Northwest Metro <br /> All Aboard the Northstar! <br /> COMMUTER LINE WOULD BE ANOTHER BENEFIT FOR ELK RIVER BUSINESSESRiver <br /> Catherine Mehelich,the Director of <br /> Economic Development for the City of <br /> Elk River. "It allows them to draw from <br /> a larger pool of quality employees. <br /> / And those workers,if they take the rail <br /> Akt line,have a much easier commute and <br /> ' don't have to worry about the hassles of <br /> heavy traffic and parking?' <br /> "The Northstar line is vital for our city <br /> and our area,"says Debra Urista,chair <br /> of All Aboard Elk River,a grassroots <br /> organization that supports the proposal. <br /> "It would mean that people who work <br /> Governor Powlenty spoke to the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce, y and live in Elk River would not have to <br /> • November of 2004 and described his support for Northstar. He accented <br /> an honorary,•"ticket'to ride N from Al Aboard Elk River Chan• be totally dependent on driving the <br /> Debra Urista. crowded freeways year-round,either <br /> f recent news from the Minnesota is expected to take less than 30 minutes. for their commute or to drive to <br /> Legislature is any indication,it Minneapolis or other locations in <br /> Approval of the Northstar line would the Twin Cities." <br /> looks as if the long-awaited not only be good for Elk River area <br /> Northstar Commuter Rail line will Local supporters note that the <br /> be comingto Elk River after all. residents,who could ride the <br /> Northstar line would be a community <br /> commuter rail to many cultural venues <br /> That's because in recent weeks a and sporting events in the Twin Cities. asset,making Elk River attractive to <br /> bonding bill that includes initial • more residents and potential employees <br /> The line would also provide a great <br /> funding for construction of the 40-mile for local companies. <br /> segment between Minneapolis and Big benefit to existing and future Elk River <br /> Lake,with a stop and a commuter businesses and their employees. "There are plenty of light industrial <br /> station in Elk River,was progressing The Elk River Station,for example, <br /> companies looking at Elk River as <br /> rather nicely at the Minnesota Capitol. would be right next to a light a place to relocate or to start a <br /> The commuter line would be added to industrial park owned by the City's business;says Mehelich of the <br /> the existing tracks operated by Economic Development Authority Economic Development Department. <br /> Burlington Northern Sante Fe(BNSF) (EDA),which could be ready for "And we have a variety of business <br /> Railway,which basically run parallel to incentive programs that can assist <br /> development in the fall of this year. <br /> heavily used Interstate Highway 94 them. The potential addition of the <br /> and U.S.Highway 10-the so-called Eventually,the park could have up to Northstar line is another valuable asset <br /> Northstar Corridor. 500 employees or more,who would to Elk River companies"■ <br /> According to supporters of the be able to walk from the Northstar <br /> project,the eventual$265 million station to their workplace. <br /> Northstar line could be up and (Please see related article on Page 2). <br /> illrunning by as soon as 2008. Starting "Traditionally employment-intensive <br /> from downtown Minneapolis,the ride businesses have really wanted to be <br /> to the Elk River Station,and vice versa, near commuter rail lines,"says <br /> Please tall x'6;3.O ii /Uf(I nr c-mail its at c/rich(,lie/)C«:ci.c,ih,-rwer.rnn./IN or bslc'iuniel_<<I::ri.elle III el ntru.r,s <br />