From the Anoka County News, Volume 2 - 2009:
Successes in the 2009 Minnesota legislative session include $26 million in bonding for inter-city rail projects. Northern Lights Express passenger rail (NLX) is included in a statewide rail plan, under development, and is positioned to benefit from these new dollars. Additional funding requests are moving forward at the federal level.
The Minneapolis-Duluth/Superior Passenger Rail Alliance is spearheading the project. The board includes representatives from regional rail authorities in Hennepin, Anoka, Pine, St. Louis and Lake Counties, plus cities of Duluth and Minneapolis, as well as involvement from communities and agencies in the corridor.
The Alliance has selected SRF Consulting Group, Inc., to conduct the federally required environmental study on NLX. Work is expected to start in July and take approximately 18 months to complete. Items for study include impacts on wetlands, habitats, traffic and people living along the 150-mile corridor.
“Momentum is building,” said Anoka County Commissioner Dan Erhart, vice chair of the Alliance. “Thanks to support from the public and elected officials at the local, state and federal levels, I think we can get this project done in just a few years.”
Proposed stations along the existing BNSF Railway tracks include Foley Blvd. in Coon Rapids, the Minneapolis downtown ballpark station, Cambridge, Hinckley, Superior and Duluth.
As for environmental impacts, the Hinckley Sub already hosts freight traffic by the BNSF, CP and UP. How much additional impact would there be with two trains a day (that’s not stated in the article but I’ve heard elsewhere that’s what’s being studied)? Foley Blvd. in Coon Rapids - eeee