Support Funding for the Northstar Commuter Rail Project
Dear Representative,
I am writing to urge your support for including $37.5 million in the House Capital Bonding bill for the Northstar Commuter Rail project.
This project was approved, after hours of hearings, by both the House Transportation and Capital Investment Committees. The project has passed the cost/benefit analysis required by the federal government and has earned the support of Governor Pawlenty. Funding for Northstar should be added back to the bill on the House floor.
The Northstar Corridor is one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Thousands of new residents means more congestion on already crowded highways. All of the communities along this corridor are asking for this rail project to provide an alternative to the daily rush hour grind. Some relief has to be provided, and MnDOT does not have any plans to upgrade highway 10 in the near future.
If the State of Minnesota does not make a commitment to Northstar, federal funding will be lost to another state. We need to get this important transit project going and provide a balanced transportation system -- one that provides both highways and transit to serve the residents of the state.
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