4.9. SR 02-20-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minnesota Department of Transportation Agenda Item #2a News Release Office of Communications 395 John Ireland Blvd. Mail Stop 150 St. Paul, MN 55155-1899 Office Tel: 651/296-3581 Fax: 6511297-4776 January 24, 2001 For Immediate Release Contact: Mary McFadand 651/284-4035 Governor Ventura's Budget Includes Northstar Rail Line Funding ST. PAUL, Minn.--The Minnesota Department of Transportation today supported Gov. Jesse Ventura's request for funding of the Northstar rail project in the state's capital budget. Mn/DOT and the Northstar Corridor Development Authority are working together on the Northstar project that will link Minneapolis with St. Cloud. "Governor Ventura's inclusion of the Northstar rail project represents a major step forward for the project and for creation of a passenger rail system to serve the region's growing need for rail transit," said Elwyn Tinklenberg, commissioner of transportation. The capital budget includes $115 million from the state of Minnesota to design and construct the commuter rail line as well as its multi-modal connection with the Hiawatha light rail transit line in downtown Minneapolis. "Some of the money we are requesting from the Legislature will be matched by the federal government," said Gov. Ventura. "We intend to see an integrated, -regional commuter rail system that will ease congestion throughout the seven-county Twin Cities metro area." Mn/DOT expects the total capital cost for this rail project to be $283 million, with 50 percent coming from the federal government. "The Northstar rail line is an important piece of an integrated transportation system that includes many forms of passenger rail service, "said Tinklenberg. "A multi-modal mix of transportation spending is the best long-term prescription for the state. Mn/DOT is committed to building a complete transit system for all of Minnesota." - more -