Northstar Line - Upgrades and Future Extension

Upgrades and Future Extension

The double-track main line between Northtown Yard in Minneapolis and Coon Creek Junction in Coon Rapids 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 will begin on March 27, 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 ratios 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 November 8, 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.