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Fridley's plans for Northstar station are on fast track <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />"It will be one of the most exciting projects to happen here in quite a while. It provides a <br />lot of opportunity," Bolin said. <br />After more than eight years of planning and seeking funding, "We are finally getting to the <br />fun part of the whole project.... Ideally, it will be a catalyst for more retail and housing <br />development." <br />Other work nearly done <br />Stations in Big Lake, Anoka and Coon Rapids already are largely complete and will get <br />finishing touches in the spring, said Ken Stevens, a Northstar consultant. <br />The $5 million Riverdale stop in Coon Rapids was built next to an existing park-and-ride <br />Metro Transit parking lot off Northdale Boulevard behind the Riverdale Target. The <br />station has afour-story bridge, with elevators at each end, to take riders over the tracks <br />to reach inbound trains. <br />Work continues on the Minneapolis commuter station next to the new Twins ballpark, as <br />well as at the Elk River stop, which will have 800 parking spots and has already attracted <br />development. <br />Elk River's three-story Pullman Place for people 55 and older stands across the street <br />from where workers were pouring concrete for the station platform last week. More than <br />50 twin and town homes also have been built behind Pullman Place in the past few <br />years, said Jeff Gongoll, Elk River community development director. The city set up <br />Northstar Business Park near the station a few years ago, and another business opened <br />there in October, he said. <br />"That is big for us because it brings a lot of jobs," Gongoll said. <br />The train service <br />The Northstar line, operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, will make six <br />round trips each weekday and three on weekend days. A typical train will consist of an <br />engine pulling four coach cars, each with capacity to seat about 150 people. <br />More than 5,200 passengers a weekday are expected to ride the Northstar, including 500 <br />through the Fridley station alone. <br />"I think you will see a lot more people get off the train in Fridley," Bolin said. He noted the <br />city has 29,000 jobs, including many at Medtronic's world headquarters. <br />Bolin said Medtronic and other employers have discussed providing shuttle service to <br />Northstar station. <br />Jim Adams • 612-673-7658 <br />http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print This_Story?sid=35239429 12/4/2008 <br />