Recent News: MN High-Speed Rail
- MnDOT's high-speed rail vision is worth rallying around
- High-speed rail route through Winona approved
- Mississippi River route chosen for high-speed train to Chicago
- La Crosse-St. Paul high-speed rail route endorsed
- Mississippi River Route Decision Brings High-Speed Rail from Twin Cities to Chicago Closer to Reality
- Obama officials visit Minnesota to sell president's job act
- High-Speed Rail Focus of Discussion in Winona
- Positive signal on Minnesota's interest in high-speed rail
- Major New Study ID’s Best U.S. High-Speed Rail Corridors
- High Speed rail work continues despite Wisconsin's speed bump
- Feds award St. Paul Union Depot an additional $40M
- Planners aiming to avoid a rail traffic jam
- Communities along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border get the message
- Local rail ‘summit' lobbies for high-speed line on Amtrak route
- Ramsey County gets $35M grant for Union Depot renovation
- St. Paul depot rehab gets more federal money
- A year later, Minnesota has spent half of its $5 billion in stimulus cash
MnDOT's high-speed rail vision is worth rallying around
MinnPost.com | Jerry Miller
December 12, 2011
The recent news that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has selected its preferred high-speed rail route connecting the Twin Cities to Chicago is great news for Minnesota businesses and travelers. Mn/DOT’s decision to put high-speed rail down the Mississippi River corridor means Minnesotans could be riding a high-speed rail passenger train to places like Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis within the next 15 years. This is a bold step in the right direction.
High-speed rail route through Winona approved
Winona Daily News | Mary Juhl
November 16, 2011
Winona, Minn. –If high-speed rail comes to Minnesota, it'll run through Winona.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration announced Tuesday that a route running along the Mississippi River is the preferred line for the proposed high-speed rail system connecting the Twin Cities to Chicago. State and federal agencies originally considered more than 30 routes before deciding that the Mississippi River line was ideal.
Mississippi River route chosen for high-speed train to Chicago
Pioneer Press | Dennis Lien
November 15, 2011
St. Paul, Minn. – A proposed high-speed commuter train route between the Twin Cities and Chicago should go along the Mississippi River in Minnesota, state and federal officials said Tuesday.
Selecting it as the preferred route means other possibilities, including one through Eau Claire, Wis., along the Interstate 94 corridor, are no longer options, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration.
La Crosse-St. Paul high-speed rail route endorsed
Star Tribune | Pat Doyle
November 15, 2011
St. Paul, Minn. – The $3 billion plan, the less costly of two, would require upgrading track between St. Paul and La Crosse.
Upgrading rail tracks between St. Paul and La Crosse, Wis., is the best bet for a Minnesota link in a future high-speed passenger line between the Twin Cities and Chicago, federal and state officials said Tuesday.
Mississippi River Route Decision Brings High-Speed Rail from Twin Cities to Chicago Closer to Reality
Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission
November 15, 2011
St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced that the Mississippi River route is the preferred alignment for high-speed passenger rail from the Union Depot in St. Paul to downtown Chicago. With the selection of the river route, Mn/DOT can begin the next phase of the study, the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).
Obama officials visit Minnesota to sell president's job act
ECM Publishers | T.W. Budig
September 19, 2011
Federal transportation officials were in St. Paul on Monday, Sept. 19, lauding the perceived job-creation virtues of government-funded infrastructure projects and the promise of Democratic President Barack Obama's American Jobs Act for creating more.
High-Speed Rail Focus of Discussion in Winona
Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission
September 19, 2011
In August, members of the Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission traveled to Winona to meet city, university and business representatives to learn why high-speed passenger rail is important to Winona.
Legislators should send a positive signal on Minnesota's interest in high-speed rail
MinnPost.com | Jerry Miller
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
While partisan differences continue to move our government to a near standstill, the world around us continues to move at a rapid rate. Political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa continues to put pressure on global oil prices.
Major New Study ID’s Best U.S. High-Speed Rail Corridors
America 250 | Petra Todorovich
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
New York, NY – A new study released today by America 2050 identifies the high-speed rail corridors with the greatest potential to attract ridership in each of the nation’s “megaregions” – networks of metropolitan regions that collectively contain more than 70 percent of U.S. population and jobs.
High Speed rail work continues despite Wisconsin's speed bump
Kare 11 | Scott Seroka
Thursday, December 2, 2010
RED WING, Minn. -- There was no shortage of enthusiasm in the jury assembly room of the Goodhue County Courthouse on Thursday.
The Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission was holding its monthly meeting, one month after Wisconsin's Governor-Elect dealt the Chicago to St. Paul rail project a devastating blow.
Feds award St. Paul Union Depot an additional $40M
MinnPost | Derek Wallbank
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
WASHINGTON - St. Paul's Union Depot will receive a $40 million grant from the Department of Transportation, hiking the total federal investment in the station to at least $125 million.
Rep. Jim Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, called the grant a "major step forward for transportation in Minnesota."
Planners aiming to avoid a rail traffic jam
Star Tribune | Jim Anderson
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Transportation officials are preparing to add passenger routes to the 150 freight trains that already squeeze through St. Paul junction.
As dreams of a passenger rail revival begin taking shape, with St. Paul's Union Depot as its hub, planners are laying groundwork to make sure freight trains aren't left at the station.
Communities along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border get the message
Winona Radio
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission wants to make sure other communities along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border get the message about the advantages of having the future fast trains use the existing river route between La Crosse and the Twin Cities.
Winona Mayor Jerry Miller, who chairs the statewide commission, says his group wants to communicate with other rail groups including On Board Midwest and a group in Eau Claire instead of compete with them.
Last month Miller's commission met with the La Crosse Empire Builder Coalition in La Crosse which included the leaders of the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation.
During its monthly meeting today in Red Wing, the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission further discussed its Strategic Communication Plan and a request for proposals for its Public Communication Assessment.
Miller said he believes it will be some time yet before the federal government chooses a high speed rail route between Chicago and the Twin Cities.
Local rail 'summit' lobbies for high-speed line on Amtrak route
La Crosse Tribune | Richard Mial
Friday, March 19, 2010
One hundred high-speed rail advocates, several riding Amtrak from Minnesota, gathered Thursday in La Crosse to promote having the proposed Chicago-to-Twin Cities passenger train follow the river route used by Amtrak.
Billed as a rail "summit," the event at Train Station BBQ featured Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi and Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel as keynote speakers.
"I really feel that this route will come out on top," said Winona, Minn., Mayor Jerry Miller, who heads the Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission of officials from communities on Amtrak's Empire Builder line.
Ramsey County gets $35M grant for Union Depot renovation
Pioneer Press | Dave Orrick
Updated: February 17, 2010
The Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority will get $35 million in federal grant money for the redevelopment of Union Depot in St. Paul, officials said today.
The rail authority had applied for $135.8 million in Transporation Improvements Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, said Art Coulson, Ramsey County communications director.
U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum called it "a huge step closer to making Union Depot a multi-modal transportation hub."
St. Paul depot rehab gets more federal money
Minnesota Public Radio | Tim Nelson
February 17, 2010
St. Paul, Minn. - A plan to rehabilitate St. Paul's Union Depot has received a second round of federal funding.
A $35 million grant for the project was announced Wednesday by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. That's in addition to $45 million previously granted to the project.
A year later, Minnesota has spent half of its $5 billion in stimulus cash
Star Tribune staff writers | Jim Foti and Chris Havens
Updated: February 17, 2010
Union Depot gets $35 million in latest round of federal outlays.
On the one-year anniversary of the federal stimulus law, Minnesota counted its blessings and racked up money for another big project Wednesday. The languishing Union Depot in St. Paul became the latest beneficiary of federal largesse, receiving $35 million.
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