(The Duluth News Tribune posted the following Associated Press article on its website on April 22.)
ST. PAUL, Minn. –The proposed Northstar commuter rail line from St. Cloud to downtown Minneapolis faces a crucial test at the Legislature this week.
The state needs to put up about $37 million to show the federal government it is serious about the project before competing projects snag the federal dollars that are available for Minnesota.
“If the state can come through with a commitment, the federal government will come through as well,” said state Rep. Kathy Tingelstad, R-Andover.
Tingelstad will try to make the case for paying for the 82-mile line Wednesday to a skeptical House committee, where Republican leaders are wary of transit projects.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has given no clear signals about the project, and looming in the background is a $4.2 billion state budget shortfall.
A DFL-controlled Senate panel approved $10 million for Northstar in a bonding bill, but the GOP governor and House leaders say there will be no bonding bill this year.
Still, supporters — including many Republicans — are banking on an economist’s analysis that says commuter rail is the best option for the fastest-growing corridor in the state.
Northstar would run eight morning and eight evening rush-hour trains on existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight tracks. It would cost $302 million in 2007 dollars to make track and signal improvements, build 11 stations, purchase trains and connect the line with the Hiawatha Light Rail line. It would cost $15 million annually to run.
The plan calls for $151 million in federal money,$123 million in state money and $28 million from cities and counties along the line.
Supporters recently employed Paul Anton, a respected economist who determined commuter rail was the best option for reducing congestion along U.S. 10 and Interstate 94. Commuter rail could carry 5,000 people daily, equivalent to about 1 lanes of traffic. Building and running commuter rail would cost $502 million over 15 years, while the cost to build and maintain another lane to St. Cloud would exceed $1 billion.
According to Anton’s analysis, the public would derive a $1.15 return on every tax dollar invested.
But David Strom, legislative director of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, is skeptical of the analysis because it counts as a public benefit the money train riders would save by not having their cars idling in traffic, as well as saved auto operating costs and parking costs.
“The large majority of benefit is taking private costs and transferring to the public,” Strom said.