Mike Rogers, transit project manager with the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, has a big project on his hands — high-speed rail from the Twin Cities to Chicago.
It’s a politically, technically, financially and administratively monumental task force that feels like it has been in the planning stages since, well, forever. Nope, no shortage of political pushback and controversy here.
Rogers serves as a staffer for the Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission, a coalition of cities and counties pushing for high-speed rail from the Twin Cities to Chicago. The commission will meet Jan. 2 at the Goodhue County Justice Center in Red Wing. The commission presently envisions stops at the recently-remodeled Union Depot in downtown St. Paul, Red Wing and Winona, as well as Milwaukee and Chicago — up to a dozen stations in three states.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is still analyzing details, though Gov. Mark Dayton’s office has previously signaled that high speed rail is not an immediate priority. Of course, that was before the state posted a $1 billion budget surplus.
“MnDOT completed a route analysis, and right now MnDOT is doing a ‘tier-one’ environmental impact statement, so they’re getting more information on cost and ridership,” Rogers said. More information is online at www.mnhighspeedrail.com.
The high-speed route from the Twin Cities would probably mirror the normal-speed route of Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which offers a single train trip to and another from Chicago daily.
Amtrak had been expected to relocate service on the Empire Builder last year from Midway Station on Transfer Road to the renovated depot, but those plans were delayed by complicated signal requirements and dealings with three freight rail companies and the federal government. A recent lease agreement now calls for Amtrak to begin service through the depot in early 2014, though a specific date has not been announced.
The depot could be the nexus for additional transit corridors. Ramsey County has greenlighted a $1.49 million, 18-month study of a possible St. Paul-to-Forest Lake line, aka the 30-mile Rush Line Corridor, which could ultimately be expanded another 50 miles to Hinckley, Minn.
For its one-year anniversary and related holiday happenings, the Union Depot will host an auction on Friday, Dec. 6, a bake sale this weekend featuring Twin Cities restaurants and bakeries, a tree-lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. Saturday, and six free family movies showcasing the caroling abilities of the Muppets and Bruce Willis dying harder. More information is online at UnionDepot.org. In addition, the CapitolRiver Council is hosting a silent auction today (Friday).