(The following story by Kelly Johnson appeared on the Star News website on August 21.)
ELK RIVER, Minn. — Officials are working to get Northstar commuter rail running as early as possible in the wake of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.
To help ease congestion, Northstar Project Partners are exploring the possibility of providing emergency mobile service within the next three or four months.
This potential emergency service could operate two round trips with temporary stations at Coon Rapids, Elk River and Big Lake.
Before the emergency service could start some issues need to be resolved, however, including special federal appropriation for funding service outside the full funding grant agreement, which is expected to be approved later this fall.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad would also need to approve the earlier timetable.
Under this timetable, rolling stock, or the trains, would be temporarily leased to take passengers between stations.
A layover facility for the storage and maintenance of trains would need to be located if this emergency service were used.
Another proposal to move up the Northstar commuter rail opening date calls for operation to begin in October 2008, rather than October 2009 as currently proposed.
This proposal calls for a minimum of two trains to run in both the morning and evening. For this proposal to be viable, the full funding grant agreement would need immediate approval, the rolling stock would be leased or loaned, BNSF would need to accelerate the service schedule and current contractors need to accelerate the construction schedule.
“The key is getting the full funding grant agreement approved,” said Tim Yantos, executive director of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority.
In a letter to federal officials, Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar ask two key agencies to immediately recommend Northstar for a full funding grant agreement.
“The collapse of the I-35W bridge has placed an enormous strain on the transportation infrastructure of the Twin Cities. Northstar represents one of the most readily available alternatives to ease the congestion and delays caused by the bridge’s collapse,” the letter said.