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JUN. 7. 200] 3:49PM REP 0BERSTAR <br /> <br /> ~,30~ R~Y~URN HOUSE 0¢¢1CE BUI~ING <br /> WA~Ht~GTgN, ~C ZOO1 <br /> (2OQ) 22~211 <br /> FAX: (202) <br /> <br /> ~N~NG OEMO~AT; <br /> <br /> COMM~EE ON <br /> AND IN~AS~UC~RE <br /> <br />June 6, 2001 <br /> <br />Dear Northstar Corridor Development Authority friends: <br /> <br />NO. 3753 <br /> <br />P. 2 <br /> <br /> BRAINERD Cll'Y HALL <br /> g0q L*,UnEL <br /> <br /> 31~ LAKE <br /> C-,~g~M, ~N 55718 <br /> <br /> ~1 ~EDERAL ~UILDIN~ <br /> DULUTh, MN <br /> i21B] 727-7474 <br /> <br /> 130~ ORONO <br /> E~ Rm~, MN 55330 <br /> <br /> 5~81 BT. CRO~X TR~ <br /> <br /> The 90-plus miles from Anoka COunty to St. Cloud cover the 3a fastest pOpulation growth center <br />in the United States. This growth presents an enormous trangportation el~allenge to the people and their <br />cities throughout the corridor as well as to the entire State of Minnesota. The Northstar Corridor Project <br />was born as a creative, visionary response to the transportation challenges posed by this ¢xtraordinary <br />growth. <br /> <br /> It has been a pleasure for me to work with the talented men and women of the NCDA, since <br />inceptio~ in 1997, toward the realization of thc dream of this exceptional transportation irdtiative. Your <br />dedication, your hard work, and your success in earryi~lg this project forward have been exemplary. I <br />have great admiration for thi~ organization of 30 governmental units which has proven its ability tO apply <br />sound judgment, collaborative decision-making, and inclusive action to tho complexity of issues affecting <br />each of the governmental units throughout the Northstar Corridor. NCDA is recognized throughout the <br />country as a model organization capable of high quality work. <br /> <br /> I have seen sensible NCDA policy makers look at all transportation options, select an integrated <br />transportatJ01t solution with commuter rail as its centerpiece, and then move carefully and swiftly <br />forward with planning, engineering, and environmental work. NCDA took thc courageous first step as <br />the only local ~nding partner with tho fexteral government to commit capital funds to this worthy project. <br />Your work has paid off, four out of five residents in the Corridor now support the idea of commuter rail. <br />This is a testament both to your willingness to listen to your constituency and your ability to <br />communicate the benefits of commuter rail to the public. <br /> <br /> Congratulations on your success in completing Preliminary Engineering and the Final <br />Environmental Impact Statement. As the Minnesota Department of Transportation moves on to the next <br />ph~e of project development, your cominuing cooperation, support, and advocacy will be essential to thc <br />succes~ of the final design, eons'truetion, and operations, as well ms in overcoming the significant hurdles <br />of obtaining funding at tho state and federal levels. I am confident you will meet these challenges with <br />the same passion that you have exhibited thus far. <br /> <br /> Congratulations, and thank you for your visionary leadership in bringing commuter rail in the <br />Northstar Coaidor eloper to reality. <br /> <br />With all best wishes. <br /> <br />JLOlfm <br /> <br /> <br />