Laserfiche WebLink
April 4, 2002 <br /> <br />The Honorable Roger D. Moe <br />Minnesota Senate <br />208 Capitol <br />Saint Paul, MN 55155 <br /> <br />Executive Committee: <br /> <br />Betsy Wergin. NCDA Chair <br />Sherburne County <br /> <br />Paul Ostrow. NCE)A Vice Chair <br />City of Minneapolis Councilmember <br /> <br />Paul McCarron <br />Anoka County <br /> <br />Mark Stenglein <br />Hennepin County Regional Railroad <br />Authority <br /> <br />Steve Billings <br />City of Fridley <br /> <br />Lewis Stark <br />Haven Township <br /> <br />Dear Senator Moe: <br /> <br />The proposed Northstar commuter rail between Minneapolis and St. Cloud/Rice is one of <br />the most important transportation projects in the state and has strong support from the <br />vast majority of Minnesotans. Local governments and civic organizations along the <br />corridor are also supporting Northstar, and several unions have unanimously passed <br />resolutions for the project, including the Minnesota AFL-CIO, Minnesota Central Labor <br />Union, Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council, Minneapolis Building <br />and Construction Trades Council, and Minnesota Teamsters Joint Council 32. <br /> <br />Northstar represents a tremendous opportunity for Minnesota to tap into its fair share of <br />federal funding. At the federal level the project enjoys bipartisan support, including from <br />the influential senior leadership of Congressmen Martin Sabo and Jim Oberstar, and <br />support from President Bush. Your leadership in the state Senate has been important to <br />progress on Northstar so far, and we thank you for your on-going support as we enter this <br />crucial period of the legislative session. <br /> <br />Recent demographic figures make this project all the more important, with rapid growth <br />from Anoka through the greater St. Cloud area. This is the fastest growing area in the <br />state and the third fastest in the U.S. The population is booming and, along with it, traffic <br />congestion. The existing infrastructure is not capable of handling the current needs and <br />will be overwhelmed by the growth expected in the next 10-20 years. <br /> <br />Eighty percent of residents along the corridor, whether Democrat, Republican or <br />Independent, support the Northstar commuter rail project because they are looking for <br />other transportation options. What the citizens want is an integrated transportation <br />system that includes roads and transit options. <br /> <br /> Northstar Corridor Development Authority <br />2100 3'" Avenue, Anoka, Minnesota 55303-2265 (763) 323-5700 Fax: (763) 323-5682 www. northstartrain.org <br /> <br /> <br />