As hopes for state money for rail projects seem to be dimming amid the state budget crisis, three Duluth City Council members think it's time to bail on plans for resuming passenger trains between the Twin Ports and the Twin Cities.
The three — Todd Fedora, Jay Fosle and Jim Stauber — want the city to pull out of the Minneapolis-Duluth/Superior Passenger Rail Alliance. And they want the city's $40,000 contribution to the alliance back, reports the Duluth News Tribune.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that state rail projects are dead,” said Stauber said [sic]. He cited a House committee's vote to eliminate funding for for [sic] the proposed Duluth-Minneapolis line. And without state matching dollars, he said, Minnesota could lose millions in federal rail funding.
Still, a majority of the Duluth council is expected to vote to stay in the association, with hopes that the situation will improve and the passenger rail route will return.
[...] The paper notes that Bob Manzoline, coordinator of the Northern Lights Express, said the proposed 155-mile rail line would require an estimated $575 million to construct, and with a 30 percent contingency built in at the request of the Federal Rail Administration and other costs, the total budget would climb to $820 million. If selected, the project could be eligible for federal funding that would cover about 80 percent of that tab.
[...] Concerns in Duluth aren't the only cracks in the alliance, the paper said:
The Anoka County Board voted 5-2 on Jan. 25 to remove bonding for the Northern Lights Express from the county’s list of legislative priorities this session.
Commissioners Matt Look, who also chairs the Anoka County Regional Rail Authority, said his main focus has been increasing ridership on the existing Northstar commuter line rather than pushing for a Minneapolis-to-Duluth line.
Matt Look seems to thinly say indirectly how much he wants a Northstar stop in Ramsey, even now when representing county-wide interests and not sitting at the Ramsey council table.
So, did county bonding for that Ramsey stop survive the 5-2 cutting vote on the other-guys' rail, with Matt's rail okay? It's not in the Minn Post report. Readers with knowledge are invited to send an email or post a comment.
One expects that the Duluth and casino people may tell Look, your town's Northstar stop, fund it, sure, out of Ramsey taxes. Danny might even feel that way, possibly depending in part on how Jim Deal feels. I doubt Deal would say, "Fund it out of Deal taxes."
If in fact there is bipartisan support for the Ramsey stop, with Deal and GOP factions both wanting it, this legislature, deficit and all, might fund the thing with little fanfare. Of course it cuts against the general grain of cut this, cut that, which Republicans are keen to trumpet these days. It would not be the first time actions and words fail to be congruent. I recall the cigarette "fee" assessment, which some characterized as a Timmy-tax, pledges and such notwithstanding.
That Ramsey stop is even wanted by the Flannelry and Cotton folks, the Indiana promoters wanting to take over multiple ramp parking stalls in the course of favoring the City of Ramsey with a multi=level rental building. Or is that Flattery and Cullings? I never can get that name right. In Indiana it's probably a household word. Two of 'em.
____________UPDATE___________
Reportedly, Matt said his main focus has been increasing ridership on the existing Northstar commuter line. Matt is of course correct beyond reasonable doubt. Were there to be this:
Northstar ridership would increase dramatically:
Matt probably holds bus ridership numbers as proof.