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<br />t::: )(ec c........k ~ 5 <br />N L D {.\. ~ 2. c..... <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Satveer Chaudhary <br />State Representative <br /> <br /> <br />Minnesota <br />House of <br />Representatives <br /> <br />District 52A <br />Anoka and Ramsey Counties <br /> <br />Phil Carruthers, Speaker <br /> <br /> <br />. COMMITTEES: EDUCATION; HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE; FACILITIES SUBCOMMITTEE; j~J~y; ~~tw.] S~C~ <br />January 11, 1999CE-CHAIR, CIVIL & FAMILY LAW; LOCAL GOVERNMENT & METR1JOOP. OL tAN AFFAIRS <br /> <br />. . JAN 121998 <br />Northstar Corridor Committee <br />2100 - 3rd Avenue THE ANOKA COUNTY <br />Anoka, MN 55303-2265 ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE <br /> <br /> <br />Dear Committee Members: <br /> <br />I am writing about an ongoing concern I have had regarding the adequacy of the number and <br />location of rail stops proposed for the commuter rail line that will run between Minneapolis and <br />8t. Cloud. Any assistance you can give me in addressing my concern will be greatly appreciated. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />I am seeking your help because I want to ensure that all Anoka County residents will be served <br />by the line. Currently, I don't believe that will be the case. I believe that the lack of a rail stop at <br />the southern end of the county near Columbia Heights will result in residents of that area being <br />under-served by the commuter line. Consequently, a stop somewhere in the area of 37th to 44th <br />A venue is warranted for several reasons. <br /> <br />First, commuters living in the southern end of Anoka County near Columbia Heights who want <br />to take the rail south to Minneapolis are unlikely to drive to Fridley for a connection. Common <br />sense says that a resident at 39th and Polk in Columbia Heights will forgo the drive to Northtown <br />(practically) and simple drive to Minneapolis on their own. We need to ensure that doesn't <br />happen. A rail stop near the southern tip of the county will help prevent that from occurring. <br /> <br />Second, as you move closer to the city of Minneapolis, the concentration of people increases. As <br />the population concentrations increase, more stations placed closer together is not unwarranted. <br />Therefore, even though a rail station is planned for northern Fridley, an additional station a short <br />distance south can increase ridership for the rail service and provide return to taxpaying residents <br />of southern Anoka County. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Third, providing adequate service to the residents of southern Anoka County is especially <br />important when looking at the long-term plans for light rail transit. I want to ensure that all <br />Anoka County residents will have the option of using the commuter rail line to link up with the <br />planned LRT line running from Minneapolis to the Mall of America and the airport. However, if <br />there is no rail stop at the southern tip of the county, residents of that area will be precluded from <br />taking advantage of the light rail line because, as I mentioned earlier, people are unlikely to drive <br />to the north end of Fridley for a connection heading south. <br /> <br />1601 North Innsbruck Drive, Fridley, Minnesota 55432 <br />507 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., SI. Paul, Minnesota 55155-1298 <br />no FAX (612) 296-4165 <br />~20.1 <br /> <br />(612) 571-0897 <br />(612) 296-4331 <br /> <br />.-G <br />