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<br />. <br /> <br />September 28, 1999 <br />DRAFT <br /> <br />NCDA COMMUTER RAIL GUIDING PRINCIPLES <br /> <br />I. <br /> <br />General Principles <br /> <br />Because the Northstar Corridor commuter rail project will involve the use of public funds, <br />NCDA, acting on behalf of the State of Minnesota (the "State"), must ensure that: <br />A. The commuter rail service is convenient, fast, and reliable enough to attract and <br />retain a substantial ridership; <br />B. Implementation and operation of the commuter rail service is efficient and cost- <br />effective, with all prices at fair and competitive levels; <br />C. The quality and terms for the commuter rail service make it the best mass <br />transportation alternative for the corridor; <br />D. The State's rights regarding commuter rail services are fully enforceable and are <br />for a sufficient time period to ensure that it receives an adequate return on its <br />capital investment; and <br />E. The commuter rail service can be integrated seamlessly with transportation <br />services over future commuter rail corridors and over existing and planned <br />metropolitan and State transit and transportation systems. <br /> <br />II. Additional Service Principles <br /> <br />. Commuter rail service must: <br />A. Commence revenue operations by the end of December 2003; <br />B. Operate in accordance with schedules established by the NCDA; <br />C. Meet or exceed on-time performance standards; <br />D. Have priority over and not be impaired by freight traffic for the duration of the <br />contract; <br />E. Be subject to future expansion as required by NCDA; <br />F. Be smoothly integrated with rolling stock maintenance, whether that service is <br />provided by BNSF or a third-party; <br />G. Meet or exceed all applicable safety standards; <br />H. Meet or exceed ADA standards; and <br />1. Be provided by courteous and customer-service-oriented operating personnel. <br /> <br />III. Additional Financial Principles <br /> <br />A. <br /> <br />Compensation paid to BNSF must: <br />1. Be comparable to or lower than compensation paid to BNSF and other <br />vendors for commuter rail services elsewhere in the United States; <br />Be structured so that BNSF is responsible for cost containment; <br />Be clear and easy to administer and audit; <br /> <br />'" <br />.). <br /> <br />2. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-1- <br />