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<br />I. Introduction <br /> <br />The proposed Northstar Corridor Rail Project (Project) will provide commuter <br />rail service along a 40-mile corridor from Downtown Minneapolis to Big Lake, <br />Minnesota parallel to Trunk Highways 47 and 10. It will use existing rail <br />tracks owned by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) <br />and include 6 stations. The commuter line is expected to carry 5,600 <br />passengers per day by the year 2025. The rail line will have inter-modal <br />connections to bus transit and to the Hiawatha Light Rail Transit (LRT) line. <br />The Northstar connection to LRT consists of a four-block extension on the <br />north end of the Hiawatha LRT to reach the Downtown Minneapolis commuter <br />rail station. With the exception of the Downtown Minneapolis station, all of <br />the stations will have park and ride facilities. <br /> <br />The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), the grantee, is <br />working closely with its partners, the Northstar Corridor Development <br />Authority (NCDA) and the Metropolitan Council, to deliver the Northstar <br />Project. The Northstar Project Office (NPO) was established with staff from <br />each partnering agency to oversee the implementation of the Project. <br /> <br />Since the last written report to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), dated <br />June 2005, the following occurred and are described in this report: <br /> <br />· NPO submitted draft materials to FTA to seek a "Recommended" <br />rating and approval for entry into final design <br />· Requested an increase in property value thresholds for local decisions <br />on property acquisition <br />· Continued to meet with station city staff regarding building codes and <br />permit process <br />· Moved Big Lake station across CR 43 <br />· Held third coordination meeting on Twins baseball stadium <br />· FT A conducted a procurement system review <br />· Executed the BNSF design agreement <br />· Continued negotiations with the firm selected for risk management <br />services <br />· Land use planning and developments advanced in each commuter rail <br />station area <br />· Held coordination meeting with Federal Railroad Administration <br />· Continued Northstar public information efforts <br />· Scheduled interviews for Deputy Director of Design position <br /> <br />II. Project Milestones <br /> <br />The following table lists the major milestones in the development and ongoing <br />implementation of the Northstar project. <br /> <br />Monthly Report <br />July 18, 2005 <br /> <br />-3- <br /> <br />Northstar Corridor Rail Project <br />