Laserfiche WebLink
Draft Status Report on the Northstar Commuter Rail Project. June 7, 2001 <br /> <br />Impact States (DEIS). Note that the FTA is the lead federal agency <br />for the ElS. Mn/DOT and the NCDA are joint local lead agencies. <br />(For more detail on the ElS, see Section IV of this Report). <br /> <br />B. Request to Enter Preliminary Engineering ('PE") <br />On March 15, 2000, the NCDA submitted to the FTA a Request to <br />Enter Preliminary Engineering. (Document on file at the Anoka <br />County Government Center.) The document was prepared to <br />respond to the FTA "Guidance and Requests for New Starts <br />Projects and Enter Preliminary Engineering and Final Design", <br />September, 1999. As required, the document demonstrated that <br />the MIS was completed, the locally preferred alternative selected <br />and the project included in the regional long-range plan. A Project <br />Management Plan was included, showing the technical capability <br />and capacity of NCDA and Mn/DOT to carry out PE. In addition, <br />the Request included an evaluation of the project with respect to <br />the New Starts criteria, showing that commuter rail will be a <br />significant and cost-effective benefit to the corridor. The Request <br />contained a comprehensive land use assessment documenting that <br />the Northstar commuter rail will serve as a catalyst for transit <br />oriented development throughout the corridor. <br /> <br />Finally, the Plan demonstrated the local financial commitment to <br />the Project. Most significantly, the NCDA was able to show the <br />commitment of 10% of the capital costs by its member counties <br />and regional railroad authorities. This commitment has been an <br />influential first step in convincing the other funding partners (State <br />of Minnesota and Congress) that the Northstar Commuter Rail <br />Project is a serious candidate for implementation. <br /> <br />C. Results: "Recommended" Rating <br />On June 22, 2000, the FTA notified the NCDA that it had approved <br />its request to enter into preliminary engineering. Further, in <br />accordance with the New Starts Criteria, the FTA assigned an <br />overall project rating of "recommended". <br /> <br />The NCDA commenced the PE process on July of 2000. (See <br />Section VII of this report.) Note that Mn/DOT submitted all PE <br />documentation to FTA on June 1, 2001. Within the next few <br />weeks, Mn/DOT will submit an application to FTA to begin final <br />design, the next phase of project development. <br /> <br />Northstar Corridor Development Authority 4 <br /> <br /> <br />