Northstar Corridor
Encyclopedia
The Northstar Line is a commuter rail route in the U.S. state
of Minnesota
, which began service on November 16, 2009. The rail line serves part of the Northstar Corridor between Minneapolis and St. Cloud
, and has been in planning since the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) formed in 1997. The corridor is served by Interstate 94
and U.S. Highway 10.
Northstar runs 40 miles (64.4 km) from Big Lake
to downtown Minneapolis at Target Field
using existing track and right-of-way
owned by the BNSF Railway
. Feasibility studies explored extending service an additional 42 miles (67.6 km) northwest, to connect Becker
, St. Cloud, and Rice
. Extension plans are on indefinite hold due to insufficient ridership.
(Mn/DOT) and the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) studied options for development of the corridor to handle the increasing commuter load, and felt that a commuter rail line was the best option. It was expected to cost about US$
265 million in 2008 dollars, estimated to be less than one-third the cost of upgrading existing highways, though the cost would later climb to $317 million. Because most of the rail that is being used already exists, the costs mostly went into building new train station
s, upgrading track, enhancing crossings, and updating signals. A significant portion of the cost was used in extending the Hiawatha Line
to the Target Field station on the west side of Interstate 394
and 5th Street. This terminal station is integrated into the Minnesota Twins
' new ballpark, Target Field
, which opened in March 2010.
Bus
feeder lines, including the Northstar Link from St. Cloud to Big Lake station
(a temporary option until the line is extended), bring residents who live along the corridor to the nearest train station
. Once in downtown Minneapolis, commuters can walk upstairs to the Hiawatha Line
light rail
, take a bus
into neighboring St. Paul and other areas, or go into one of the nearby buildings integrated into the Minneapolis skyway system
. The line currently has six trains run in the morning and evening rush hour
periods, and limited service on weekends
and holiday
s. Metro Transit has a ridership goal of 3,400 rides daily in 2010, with daily ridership of 5,900 by 2030, saving those commuters 900,000 hours over the course of a year when compared to taking a dedicated bus line.
Ridership in the first 15 days averaged 2,207 per day (33,112 total), short of a goal of 2,460. By the end of January 2010, goals were exceeded by 3%, Ridership for 2010 was originally projected to be 897,000. With only a couple weeks left in 2010, officials have announced that 2010 ridership will be about 20% less than that, 715,000. Because ridership varies significantly through the course of a year, Metro Transit's month-to-month goals are different than the yearly average goal.
s . Also, projected ridership and costs for the planned Minneapolis – St. Cloud portion were not good enough to qualify for Federal funding. Governor Jesse Ventura
was an early advocate of the Northstar commuter rail line, and convinced some people to come around to his point of view. However, former Governor Tim Pawlenty
did not initially support the idea, and said he would not support it when he campaigned for the governorship. He changed his mind after the Federal Transit Administration
determined that a scaled-back version of the line would cost less to initially build and would have lower maintenance costs after going into operation compared to other options.
Many hoped that funds would be approved for the project during Minnesota's 2004 legislative
session, but the representatives at the capitol were unable to find common ground on a number of issues, the issuing of bonds
among them. The project appeared stalled and many requested the governor to call a special session
of the legislature, but some counties in the area and the Metropolitan Council
came up with matching funds to allow funding from the United States federal government to continue.
During the 2005 legislative session, a bonding bill very similar to the proposed 2004 bonding bill was passed, including $37.5 million of funding for the corridor. The issue was believed to have changed the composition of the Minnesota House
as the election in 2004 saw at least two non-supporters in direct vicinity of the Corridor ousted by opposition candidates. The bill was signed on April 11, 2005, by Governor Tim Pawlenty
at the site of the Riverdale station
in Coon Rapids, Minnesota
. This funding along with a total of $55 million in local funding was matched with Federal funds and allowed the NCDA to enter Final Design. A nearly $1 billion budget bill passed by the legislature in May 2006 provided funding to complete the corridor to Big Lake.
Construction began on the maintenance facility near Big Lake station
and on the Hiawatha light rail extension in September 2007, before full funding for the line had been secured. On December 11, 2007, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Thomas Barrett
met with Governor Pawlenty in Anoka County and officially signed a Full Funding Grant Agreement of $156.8 million, nearly half of the funding for the $317 million, 40 miles (64.4 km) line from Minneapolis to Big Lake. The money enabled the release of an additional $97.5 million in state bonding money set aside for the project.
The federal government paid $156.8 million, the state paid $98.6 million, and the Anoka County Regional Rail Authority pledged $34.8 million. The remaining partners were Sherburne County Regional Rail Authority ($8.2 million), Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority ($8 million), the Metropolitan Council ($5.9 million) and the Minnesota Twins
($2.6 million, for the station improvements under the new Target Field
where the Minneapolis station was constructed). $107.5 million of the $317 million total went to paying BNSF for a perpetual easement for track rights and facilities along the line, and to pay the BNSF employees that operate the trains. Another significant chunk of the cost went into the Hiawatha light rail extension. The operating budget for the first full year of service, 2010, is $16.8 million.
(south side track now Union Pacific) travel eastbound past the Federal Reserve Bank, the site of the old Minneapolis Great Northern Depot
, across the Mississippi River
on the Minneapolis BNSF Rail Bridge
, and then across Nicollet Island
. At a wye, the route turns Northwest in the GN East side line, which then joins the parallel ex-Northern Pacific main line. The Great Northern and Northern Pacific lines are merged into BNSF, and this is now the BNSF Northern Transcon (transcontinental) line.
The route travels north through the Northtown Classification Yards, over Interstate 694
and makes its first stop at 61st Avenue in Fridley at the yard limit of Northtown, where it enters BNSF's Staples Subdivision
. The double track line continues past the current Foley Boulevard park-and-ride
bus station, which is planned as a future Northstar station, and turns northwest at Coon Creek Junction, where the old GN route to Duluth (now BNSF's Hinckley Subdivision
) heads straight north. The current Coon Rapids station
is behind the Riverdale shopping center by Round Lake Boulevard, and new stations were also built in Anoka, Elk River, and Big Lake.
GN and NP had local service from Minneapolis to all of the cities currently served by Northstar up through the early 20th century. One Fridley station was about a mile north of the current stop, at Mississippi Boulevard. There was a stop possibly shared by GN and NP at Coon Creek Junction. There were at least three stations built in Anoka over the years, while there were two stations in Elk River and two in Big Lake, with both cities having one stop for each railroad.
is the busiest rail corridor in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. In July 2009, before the Northstar commuter line began operation, this segment hosted 63 trains per day. The Minnesota Department of Transportation would like to run more passenger trains through the corridor, both for Northstar and other proposed passenger rail routes like the proposed Northern Lights Express
to Duluth
. A $113.4 million project to add a third main line and a new station at Foley Boulevard in Coon Rapids is planned. A $99 million grant request was filed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
to cover most of the cost. TIGER grants are expected to be awarded on February 17, 2010.
The Foley station was among cuts to the Northstar plan in 2003 while federal funding was being sought prior to construction. Despite the fact the 3,200-stall parking facility already existed (sans boarding platforms), riders would not save enough time by switching from existing bus service to rail to make the stop fit within the guidelines enforced by Federal Transit Administration's cost-effectiveness index. A station in Ramsey
at Ramsey Town Center was also cut prior to construction. Plans are moving forward to build both, with planning for the Ramsey station now being the most advanced. Ramsey station construction has been fully funded, and construction should begin in 2012.
A major obstacle to extending Northstar to St. Cloud is the lack of double-tracked rail for nine miles (14 km) from Big Lake to Becker
. However, the Minnesota Department of Transportation sees great promise in extending Northstar, since it should carry 1 to 1.5 million riders yearly. In its 2010 State Rail Plan, the agency stated an expectation of farebox recovery ratio
s between 70% and 111% on the full line. However, the same plan had estimated farebox recovery ratios of just 21% to 34% on the proposed Northern Lights Express, which had calculated ratios of over 100% in a 2007 business plan.
On 8 November 2010, it was announced that the planned extension of the line to St. Cloud had been indefinitely delayed. Projected ridership is not sufficient to qualify for federal funding.
The line opened in 2009 with five MP36PH-3C locomotives and seventeen Bombardier BiLevel Coach
cars, which each officially have about 140 seats and room for 355 when full with standees. The coaches have two doors on either side. Upon the opening, Metro Transit immediately announced that a sixth locomotive was being acquired from the Utah Transit Authority
's FrontRunner
service to Salt Lake City, and a lease agreement was soon signed. Typical weekday operation requires five trains, each consisting of one locomotive and three or four coaches. A single train is used for weekend service, making three round trips each day. The platforms are only designed for five-car trains, so longer trains would require additional construction.
However, Metro Transit did begin experimenting in April 2010 with six-car trains for taking riders to and from weekend Twins games at Target Field. These trains overhang the platform at either end and only open one door on each of the end cars. In May, trains serving Twins games grew to eight cars, with some completely overhanging the platforms so some riders would have to board and then walk from one car to another. By June, Metro Transit had decided to purchase the sixth locomotive being leased from UTA due to high leasing costs and the need to have an extra locomotive for when others are being repaired or inspected. $2.85 million for buying the locomotive and repainting it in Northstar livery will come from a $10.1 million contingency fund built into the original cost of the service.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, which began service on November 16, 2009. The rail line serves part of the Northstar Corridor between Minneapolis and St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
, and has been in planning since the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) formed in 1997. The corridor is served by Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
and U.S. Highway 10.
Northstar runs 40 miles (64.4 km) from Big Lake
Big Lake, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,063 people, 2,117 households, and 1,570 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,688.4 people per square mile . There were 2,206 housing units at an average density of 614.3 per square mile...
to downtown Minneapolis at Target Field
Target Field
Target Field is a baseball park located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the home ballpark of the Minnesota Twins, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It is the franchise's sixth ballpark and third in Minnesota. The Twins moved to Target Field for the 2010 Major League Baseball...
using existing track and right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
owned by the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
. Feasibility studies explored extending service an additional 42 miles (67.6 km) northwest, to connect Becker
Becker, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,673 people, 929 households, and 728 families residing in the city. The population density was 308.6 people per square mile . There were 967 housing units at an average density of 111.6 per square mile...
, St. Cloud, and Rice
Rice, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 711 people, 247 households, and 185 families residing in the city. The population density was 118.8 people per square mile . There were 250 housing units at an average density of 41.8 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.87% White, 0.70% Native...
. Extension plans are on indefinite hold due to insufficient ridership.
Construction and operation
The Minnesota Department of TransportationMinnesota Department of Transportation
The Minnesota Department of Transportation oversees transportation by land, water, and air in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The cabinet-level agency is responsible for maintaining the state's trunk highway system The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT, pronounced "min-dot") oversees...
(Mn/DOT) and the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) studied options for development of the corridor to handle the increasing commuter load, and felt that a commuter rail line was the best option. It was expected to cost about US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
265 million in 2008 dollars, estimated to be less than one-third the cost of upgrading existing highways, though the cost would later climb to $317 million. Because most of the rail that is being used already exists, the costs mostly went into building new train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
s, upgrading track, enhancing crossings, and updating signals. A significant portion of the cost was used in extending the Hiawatha Line
Hiawatha Line
The Hiawatha Line is a light rail corridor in Hennepin County, Minnesota that extends from downtown Minneapolis to the southern suburb of Bloomington. It was formerly known as the Hiawatha Line named after Hiawatha Avenue. Major connections on the line include the Minneapolis-St...
to the Target Field station on the west side of Interstate 394
Interstate 394
Interstate 394 is an east–west Interstate Highway spur route in Hennepin County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It runs for 9.8 miles from its eastern terminus in downtown Minneapolis to its western terminus at its junction with Interstate 494 in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka...
and 5th Street. This terminal station is integrated into the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
' new ballpark, Target Field
Target Field
Target Field is a baseball park located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the home ballpark of the Minnesota Twins, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It is the franchise's sixth ballpark and third in Minnesota. The Twins moved to Target Field for the 2010 Major League Baseball...
, which opened in March 2010.
Bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
feeder lines, including the Northstar Link from St. Cloud to Big Lake station
Big Lake (Metro Transit station)
Big Lake Station is a Northstar Line commuter rail station in Big Lake, Minnesota, located at 19691 County Road 43. The station features bicycle lockers and a park and ride lot with capacity for 518 vehicles. Commute time to downtown Minneapolis from this station is about 50 minutes...
(a temporary option until the line is extended), bring residents who live along the corridor to the nearest train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
. Once in downtown Minneapolis, commuters can walk upstairs to the Hiawatha Line
Hiawatha Line
The Hiawatha Line is a light rail corridor in Hennepin County, Minnesota that extends from downtown Minneapolis to the southern suburb of Bloomington. It was formerly known as the Hiawatha Line named after Hiawatha Avenue. Major connections on the line include the Minneapolis-St...
light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
, take a bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
into neighboring St. Paul and other areas, or go into one of the nearby buildings integrated into the Minneapolis skyway system
Minneapolis Skyway System
The Minneapolis Skyway System is an interlinked collection of enclosed pedestrian footbridges that connects various buildings in Downtown Minneapolis enabling people to walk in a climate-controlled environment...
. The line currently has six trains run in the morning and evening rush hour
Rush hour
A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
periods, and limited service on weekends
Workweek
The workweek and weekend are those complementary parts of the week devoted to labour and rest respectively. The legal working week , or workweek , is the part of the seven-day week devoted to labor. In most Western countries it is Monday to Friday. The weekend comprises the two traditionally...
and holiday
Holiday
A Holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observance is warranted. It is generally an official or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations...
s. Metro Transit has a ridership goal of 3,400 rides daily in 2010, with daily ridership of 5,900 by 2030, saving those commuters 900,000 hours over the course of a year when compared to taking a dedicated bus line.
Ridership in the first 15 days averaged 2,207 per day (33,112 total), short of a goal of 2,460. By the end of January 2010, goals were exceeded by 3%, Ridership for 2010 was originally projected to be 897,000. With only a couple weeks left in 2010, officials have announced that 2010 ridership will be about 20% less than that, 715,000. Because ridership varies significantly through the course of a year, Metro Transit's month-to-month goals are different than the yearly average goal.
Background
The route was initially designed to run the full distance between Minneapolis and St. Cloud, but the plan was not well-received by Minnesota politicianPolitician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s . Also, projected ridership and costs for the planned Minneapolis – St. Cloud portion were not good enough to qualify for Federal funding. Governor Jesse Ventura
Jesse Ventura
James George Janos , better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American politician, the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, Navy UDT veteran, former SEAL reservist, actor, and former radio and television talk show host...
was an early advocate of the Northstar commuter rail line, and convinced some people to come around to his point of view. However, former Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
did not initially support the idea, and said he would not support it when he campaigned for the governorship. He changed his mind after the Federal Transit Administration
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
determined that a scaled-back version of the line would cost less to initially build and would have lower maintenance costs after going into operation compared to other options.
Many hoped that funds would be approved for the project during Minnesota's 2004 legislative
Minnesota Legislature
The Minnesota Legislature is the legislative branch of government in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is a bicameral legislature located at the Minnesota Capitol in Saint Paul and it consists of two houses: the lower Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate...
session, but the representatives at the capitol were unable to find common ground on a number of issues, the issuing of bonds
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
among them. The project appeared stalled and many requested the governor to call a special session
Special session
In a legislature, a special session is a period when the body convenes outside of the normal legislative session. This most frequently occurs in order to complete unfinished tasks for the year , such as outlining the government's budget for the next fiscal year, biennium, or other period...
of the legislature, but some counties in the area and the Metropolitan Council
Metropolitan Council
The Metropolitan Council or Met Council is the regional governmental agency and metropolitan planning organization in Minnesota serving the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area. The Met Council is granted regional authority powers in state statutes by the Minnesota Legislature. These powers...
came up with matching funds to allow funding from the United States federal government to continue.
During the 2005 legislative session, a bonding bill very similar to the proposed 2004 bonding bill was passed, including $37.5 million of funding for the corridor. The issue was believed to have changed the composition of the Minnesota House
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
as the election in 2004 saw at least two non-supporters in direct vicinity of the Corridor ousted by opposition candidates. The bill was signed on April 11, 2005, by Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
at the site of the Riverdale station
Coon Rapids Riverdale (Metro Transit station)
Coon Rapids - Riverdale Station is a commuter rail station in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, located at 3050 Northdale Boulevard NW, south of the Riverdale shopping centers. It is served by the Northstar Commuter Rail line. The station features bicycle lockers and a park and ride lot with capacity for 466...
in Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Coon Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,627 people, 22,578 households, and 16,572 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,718.1 people per square mile . There were 22,828 housing units at an average density of 1,007.2 per square mile...
. This funding along with a total of $55 million in local funding was matched with Federal funds and allowed the NCDA to enter Final Design. A nearly $1 billion budget bill passed by the legislature in May 2006 provided funding to complete the corridor to Big Lake.
Construction began on the maintenance facility near Big Lake station
Big Lake (Metro Transit station)
Big Lake Station is a Northstar Line commuter rail station in Big Lake, Minnesota, located at 19691 County Road 43. The station features bicycle lockers and a park and ride lot with capacity for 518 vehicles. Commute time to downtown Minneapolis from this station is about 50 minutes...
and on the Hiawatha light rail extension in September 2007, before full funding for the line had been secured. On December 11, 2007, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Thomas Barrett
Thomas J. Barrett
Thomas J. Barrett is a former United States Coast Guard officer and is formerly Deputy Secretary of Transportation, holding that position from 2007 until 2009. Previously, he was the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, holding that position from 2002 until 2004...
met with Governor Pawlenty in Anoka County and officially signed a Full Funding Grant Agreement of $156.8 million, nearly half of the funding for the $317 million, 40 miles (64.4 km) line from Minneapolis to Big Lake. The money enabled the release of an additional $97.5 million in state bonding money set aside for the project.
The federal government paid $156.8 million, the state paid $98.6 million, and the Anoka County Regional Rail Authority pledged $34.8 million. The remaining partners were Sherburne County Regional Rail Authority ($8.2 million), Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority ($8 million), the Metropolitan Council ($5.9 million) and the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
($2.6 million, for the station improvements under the new Target Field
Target Field
Target Field is a baseball park located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the home ballpark of the Minnesota Twins, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It is the franchise's sixth ballpark and third in Minnesota. The Twins moved to Target Field for the 2010 Major League Baseball...
where the Minneapolis station was constructed). $107.5 million of the $317 million total went to paying BNSF for a perpetual easement for track rights and facilities along the line, and to pay the BNSF employees that operate the trains. Another significant chunk of the cost went into the Hiawatha light rail extension. The operating budget for the first full year of service, 2010, is $16.8 million.
Route
At Target Field station, the parallel rail lines of the old Great Northern Railway (north side track now BNSF) and the Minneapolis and St. Louis RailwayMinneapolis and St. Louis Railway
The Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway was an American Class I railroad that built and operated lines radiating south and west from Minneapolis, Minnesota which existed for 90 years from 1870 to 1960....
(south side track now Union Pacific) travel eastbound past the Federal Reserve Bank, the site of the old Minneapolis Great Northern Depot
Minneapolis Great Northern Depot
The Minneapolis Great Northern Depot was a passenger train station that served Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was built in 1913 and demolished in 1978...
, across the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
on the Minneapolis BNSF Rail Bridge
Minneapolis BNSF Rail Bridge
Minneapolis BNSF Rail Bridge is a combination plate girder bridge and truss bridge that spans the main channel of the Mississippi River between downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota and Nicollet Island in Minneapolis. It is located adjacent to the current Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.-History:It...
, and then across Nicollet Island
Nicollet Island
Nicollet Island is an island in the Mississippi River just north of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, named for cartographer, Joseph Nicollet. DeLaSalle High School and the Nicollet Island Inn are located there, as well as three multi-family residential buildings and twenty-two restored...
. At a wye, the route turns Northwest in the GN East side line, which then joins the parallel ex-Northern Pacific main line. The Great Northern and Northern Pacific lines are merged into BNSF, and this is now the BNSF Northern Transcon (transcontinental) line.
The route travels north through the Northtown Classification Yards, over Interstate 694
Interstate 694
Interstate 694 is an east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway located in the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The western terminus of the route is at its junction with Interstate 94 and Interstate 494 in Maple Grove...
and makes its first stop at 61st Avenue in Fridley at the yard limit of Northtown, where it enters BNSF's Staples Subdivision
Staples Subdivision
The Staples Subdivision or Staples Sub is a railway line running about from Dilworth to Fridley, Minnesota . It is operated by BNSF Railway as part of their Northern Transcon and contains the busiest segment of mainline track in the state, between Coon Rapids and Fridley...
. The double track line continues past the current Foley Boulevard park-and-ride
Coon Rapids Foley Boulevard (Metro Transit station)
Coon Rapids - Foley Boulevard is a proposed infill station on the Northstar commuter rail line in Coon Rapids, Minnesota at the site of a current Metro Transit park and ride facility...
bus station, which is planned as a future Northstar station, and turns northwest at Coon Creek Junction, where the old GN route to Duluth (now BNSF's Hinckley Subdivision
Hinckley Subdivision
The Hinckley Subdivision or Hinckley Sub is a railway line operated by BNSF Railway between Coon Rapids, Minnesota and Boylston Junction between Foxboro and Superior, Wisconsin...
) heads straight north. The current Coon Rapids station
Coon Rapids Riverdale (Metro Transit station)
Coon Rapids - Riverdale Station is a commuter rail station in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, located at 3050 Northdale Boulevard NW, south of the Riverdale shopping centers. It is served by the Northstar Commuter Rail line. The station features bicycle lockers and a park and ride lot with capacity for 466...
is behind the Riverdale shopping center by Round Lake Boulevard, and new stations were also built in Anoka, Elk River, and Big Lake.
GN and NP had local service from Minneapolis to all of the cities currently served by Northstar up through the early 20th century. One Fridley station was about a mile north of the current stop, at Mississippi Boulevard. There was a stop possibly shared by GN and NP at Coon Creek Junction. There were at least three stations built in Anoka over the years, while there were two stations in Elk River and two in Big Lake, with both cities having one stop for each railroad.
Upgrades and future extension
The double-track main line between Northtown Yard in Minneapolis and Coon Creek Junction in Coon RapidsCoon Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,627 people, 22,578 households, and 16,572 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,718.1 people per square mile . There were 22,828 housing units at an average density of 1,007.2 per square mile...
is the busiest rail corridor in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. In July 2009, before the Northstar commuter line began operation, this segment hosted 63 trains per day. The Minnesota Department of Transportation would like to run more passenger trains through the corridor, both for Northstar and other proposed passenger rail routes like the proposed Northern Lights Express
Northern Lights Express
The Northern Lights Express is a proposed passenger rail service running along the corridor between Minneapolis and Duluth primarily in the U.S. state of Minnesota. A portion of the line will run through neighboring Wisconsin to serve Duluth's "Twin Port" of Superior. Plans are to upgrade an...
to Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
. A $113.4 million project to add a third main line and a new station at Foley Boulevard in Coon Rapids is planned. A $99 million grant request was filed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
to cover most of the cost. TIGER grants are expected to be awarded on February 17, 2010.
The Foley station was among cuts to the Northstar plan in 2003 while federal funding was being sought prior to construction. Despite the fact the 3,200-stall parking facility already existed (sans boarding platforms), riders would not save enough time by switching from existing bus service to rail to make the stop fit within the guidelines enforced by Federal Transit Administration's cost-effectiveness index. A station in Ramsey
Ramsey, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,510 people, 5,906 households, and 5,102 families residing in the city. The population density was 642.9 people per square mile . There were 5,946 housing units at an average density of 206.5 per square mile...
at Ramsey Town Center was also cut prior to construction. Plans are moving forward to build both, with planning for the Ramsey station now being the most advanced. Ramsey station construction has been fully funded, and construction should begin in 2012.
A major obstacle to extending Northstar to St. Cloud is the lack of double-tracked rail for nine miles (14 km) from Big Lake to Becker
Becker, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,673 people, 929 households, and 728 families residing in the city. The population density was 308.6 people per square mile . There were 967 housing units at an average density of 111.6 per square mile...
. However, the Minnesota Department of Transportation sees great promise in extending Northstar, since it should carry 1 to 1.5 million riders yearly. In its 2010 State Rail Plan, the agency stated an expectation of farebox recovery ratio
Farebox recovery ratio
The farebox recovery ratio of a passenger transportation system is the proportion of the amount of revenue generated through fares by its paying customers as a fraction of the cost of its total operating expenses....
s between 70% and 111% on the full line. However, the same plan had estimated farebox recovery ratios of just 21% to 34% on the proposed Northern Lights Express, which had calculated ratios of over 100% in a 2007 business plan.
On 8 November 2010, it was announced that the planned extension of the line to St. Cloud had been indefinitely delayed. Projected ridership is not sufficient to qualify for federal funding.
Fleet
| Manufacturer | Model | Inventory | Number | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motive Power, Inc. | MP36PH-3C | 6 | 12 (UTA Utah Transit Authority The Utah Transit Authority operates a public transportation system throughout the Wasatch Front of Utah, United States. It operates fixed route buses, express buses, ski buses, three light rail lines , and a commuter rail line from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View, north of Ogden. UTA is based in... Purchase), 501–505 |
|
| Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany.... |
Bombardier BiLevel Coach Bombardier BiLevel Coach Bombardier BiLevel coaches are bilevel passenger cars designed to carry up to 360 passengers for regional railways. These carriages are easily identifiable; they are double-decked and are shaped like elongated octagons.-History:... |
12 | 701–712 | |
| Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany.... |
Bombardier BiLevel Cab Cars Bombardier BiLevel Coach Bombardier BiLevel coaches are bilevel passenger cars designed to carry up to 360 passengers for regional railways. These carriages are easily identifiable; they are double-decked and are shaped like elongated octagons.-History:... |
6 | 601–606 |
The line opened in 2009 with five MP36PH-3C locomotives and seventeen Bombardier BiLevel Coach
Bombardier BiLevel Coach
Bombardier BiLevel coaches are bilevel passenger cars designed to carry up to 360 passengers for regional railways. These carriages are easily identifiable; they are double-decked and are shaped like elongated octagons.-History:...
cars, which each officially have about 140 seats and room for 355 when full with standees. The coaches have two doors on either side. Upon the opening, Metro Transit immediately announced that a sixth locomotive was being acquired from the Utah Transit Authority
Utah Transit Authority
The Utah Transit Authority operates a public transportation system throughout the Wasatch Front of Utah, United States. It operates fixed route buses, express buses, ski buses, three light rail lines , and a commuter rail line from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View, north of Ogden. UTA is based in...
's FrontRunner
FrontRunner
FrontRunner is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority , serving the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from Salt Lake Central Station to Ogden Union Station. The system opened 26 April 2008...
service to Salt Lake City, and a lease agreement was soon signed. Typical weekday operation requires five trains, each consisting of one locomotive and three or four coaches. A single train is used for weekend service, making three round trips each day. The platforms are only designed for five-car trains, so longer trains would require additional construction.
However, Metro Transit did begin experimenting in April 2010 with six-car trains for taking riders to and from weekend Twins games at Target Field. These trains overhang the platform at either end and only open one door on each of the end cars. In May, trains serving Twins games grew to eight cars, with some completely overhanging the platforms so some riders would have to board and then walk from one car to another. By June, Metro Transit had decided to purchase the sixth locomotive being leased from UTA due to high leasing costs and the need to have an extra locomotive for when others are being repaired or inspected. $2.85 million for buying the locomotive and repainting it in Northstar livery will come from a $10.1 million contingency fund built into the original cost of the service.