Photos from the Secretary of Transportation’s visit to Union Depot on Oct. 15.
Archive for category High Speed Rail
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood visited Union Depot in downtown St. Paul with Congresswoman Betty McCollum and members of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 15, 2009. LaHood vowed to be a “full partner” with Ramsey County in developing the multimodal transit hub and called the Union Depot project a national model of planning and community collaboration. Read more about the visit at OnBoard Midwest. We’ll also be posting photos from the tour on Flickr soon.
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Big Week for Union Depot
Sep 1
Commissioner Jim McDonough leads a tour of the depot concourse for members of Sen. Amy Klobuchar's staff.
Three significant pieces of news regarding St. Paul’s Union Depot, future home of the East Metro’s multimodal transit hub:
- From OnBoard Midwest — “The State of Minnesota has submitted a request for $135.8 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to renovate Union Depot as a multi-modal transit hub. The Minnesota Department of Transportation worked with the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority to submit an Intercity Passenger Rail grant application for Track 1 capital funding. This is another key milestone in the effort to create a high-speed rail connection between downtown Saint Paul and Chicago. Money from the grant request would be used to renovate the concourses, upgrade the tracks, and prepare the building to be a hub for light rail, passenger rail, high-speed rail, and bus service. Union Depot is considered a Track 1 project to qualify for the funding because it meets key standards:
- It is a capital project
- The project is ready to begin work
- Project level environmental review (NEPA) has been completed
The decision to submit the funding request was based on recommendations from the Aug. 3 Intercity Passenger Rail Forum meeting. MnDOT is also working to prepare an additional request for a grant for Track 2 projects next month that would include funding for corridor development work for the Milwaukee to Twin Cities portion of the Chicago to Twin Cities corridor. This would involve some additional planning and environmental review. On Board Midwest will continue to keep you updated as things move forward. “ - Staff members from U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office toured the depot, including the concourse and recently purchased head house, with Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough, chair of the Regional Rail Authority, and Tim Mayasich, its executive director.
- Ramsey County and its partner agencies published an Environmental Assessment of the Union Depot project Aug. 24, setting in motion a 45-day public comment period. More information about the Environmental Assessment and how to submit comments is listed below.
For more information about the Union Depot project, visit the depot web site or the Regional Rail web site.
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Environmental Assessment Published
In order to secure federal funding for the purchase and renovation of Minnesota’s Union Depot, Ramsey County and its partner agencies were required to perform an environmental assessment of the project. A notice of availability was published in the August 24, 2009 EQB Monitor on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration and Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration.
The comment period for the Draft EA will remain open from August 24-October 8, 2009. Written comments on the Draft EA will be accepted until the close of business on October 8, 2009.
Comments may be made by:
Mail: Steve Morris, Transit Project Manager, RCRRA, 50 W Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 6560 RCGC-West, St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 266-2795 (note: This line will record comments only and is not staffed. To ask questions about the project or the environmental assessment, contact Steve Morris at (651) 266-2784)
Fax: (651) 266-2761
E-mail: Steve Morris
Public Hearings Scheduled
To afford an opportunity for all interested persons, agencies and groups to comment on the EA, two public hearings have been scheduled for September 9, 2009, at the Union Depot Head House, 214 4th St. E., St. Paul, MN 55101:
- 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The public hearings will be open house format with formal presentations. The formal presentations during the afternoon meeting begin at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.; for the evening meeting the formal presentations will be at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. A court reporter will be on hand to record oral comments. Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the public meeting or comment on the Draft EA should contact the RCRRA Project Manager (651-266-2784).
Copies of Environmental Assessment Available for Review
Copies of the EA for the rehabilitation and reuse of Minnesota’s Union Depot as a multi-modal transit hub are available for review online (Click here for the complete assessment, broken into sections. Some of the sections are still large and might require some time to download) or at the following libraries and RCRRA offices during regular business hours:
- St. Paul Central Library, 90 West Fourth Street, St. Paul, MN, 55102
- Rondo Community Outreach Library, 461 N. Dale Street, St. Paul, MN, 55103
- Hamline Midway Library, 1558 West Minnehaha Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55104
- Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55104
- St. Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108
- Dayton’s Bluff Library, 645 East 7th Street, St. Paul, MN, 55106
- Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, 50 W Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 6560 RCGC-West, St. Paul, MN 55102
- Mn/DOT Library, Minnesota Department of Transportation, M.S. 155, Room 175, Transportation Bldg., 395 John Ireland Boulevard, St. Paul, MN, 55103
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Photo courtesy Midwest High Speed Rail Assn.
From OnBoard Midwest:
Yesterday MnDOT announced it will apply this year for federal stimulus money for the Union Depot and to help with planning for the high-speed rail connection to Chicago.
- $137 million federal stimulus grant would go to develop the St. Paul Union Depot into a bus and rail transit hub
- $50 million would go for preliminary work on a Chicago-to-Twin Cities high-speed passenger rail corridor
The proposed high-speed rail project will be the first of a series of new investments in rail transit in Minnesota and create momentum for future projects. Yesterday’s news from MnDOT is one more example of the growing support for rail in our community.
In 2010 MnDOT will seek $150 million to extend the Northstar commuter rail line to St. Cloud and $45 million for preliminary engineering and design of the proposed Northern Lights Express passenger rail line from Duluth to Minneapolis.
A high-speed rail connection between the Union Depot and Chicago is one step closer to reality and Minnesota’s vision for an integrated rail transit system moves forward.
Click here to read the full article.
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Check out this new video from OnBoard Midwest about the benefits of Midwest High Speed Rail to St. Paul and Ramsey County. To find out more about the project, visit OnBoard Midwest or Ramsey County Regional Rail on the web.
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From the Mesabi Daily News:
Oberstar confident of Midwest rail plan/Congressman believes it’s positioned well for $8 billion
WASHINGTON — Will the federal $4 billion high-speed rail initiative be launched in California or the Midwest, which would then touch on Minnesota?
Rep. Oberstar
The answer is clear to U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., who is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. And it’s not just because of the Chisholm native ‘s obvious affinity for the nation’s Heartland. It’s because he believes Midwest officials have done their homework and the area is far ahead of California on the issue.
“This really should be called the Rudy Perpich high-speed initiative. The former governor (of Minnesota from Hibbing) and I talked about it back in 1989 and ‘90. I think it’s looking very good for the Midwest to get the high-speed initiative,” Oberstar said in a recent interview.
Karen Rae, deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, said recently that the Midwestern states’ proposal and one from California are the leading candidates for $8 billion in stimulus money for a new high-speed rail project. She cited the cooperation of eight Midwest states to formulate a network plan with Chicago as a hub and 12 metropolitan areas — including the Twin Cities — within a 400 mile-radius.
Read the whole article here.
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From the On Board Midwest blog:
The Minnesota Ports Association, a statewide group, has unanimously passed a resolution supporting On Board Midwest, a growing coalition to create a high-speed rail connection between St. Paul and Chicago. The Minnesota Ports Association was created in 1994 to help secure support and funding to maintain and improve the inland rivers and Great Lakes port facilities in Minnesota. The members understand how important it is for Minnesota to have efficient and economical ways to transport goods from Minnesota farmers and manufacturers to worldwide markets.
In addition to bringing new passenger options, a new high-speed rail connection will improve and expand the freight rail capabilities in our region.
Members of the Minnesota Ports Association
• Saint Paul Port Authority
• Minneapolis Port Authority
• Winona Port Authority
• Red Wing Port Authority
• Duluth Port Authority
For more information, contact Dennis Egan at 612-325-1330 or by email.
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Photo courtesy Midwest High Speed Rail Assn.
Midwest, California Projects are Front-runners
From HuffingtonPost:
High-speed rail plans in California and the Midwest appear to be front runners in the race for $8 billion in stimulus cash based on federal criteria released [June 17] that favor projects with established revenue sources and multistate cooperation.
California voters last November approved nearly $10 billion in state bonds that could be combined with federal money to build 800 miles of high-speed track. Eight Midwest states have cooperated closely to promote a network, with Chicago as its hub, that would join 12 metropolitan areas within 400 miles.
Read the whole post here.
Visit OnBoard Midwest blog.
Read about Union Depot project.
Visit Midwest High Speed Rail blog.
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OnBoard Midwest backers gather at Union Depot in St. Paul
On Board Midwest is a coalition of people, businesses, elected officials, and organizations who support the proposed high-speed rail project connecting Saint Paul to Chicago. Supporters of the rail line, including business leaders, city, state and county officials from up and down the line, gathered at Union Depot on Monday to celebrate Ramsey County’s purchase of the facility and its plans to renovate the facility into a multimodal transit hub for the region. Supporters also highlighted President Obama’s strong support for high speed rail nationwide and the launch of the OnBoard Midwest Web site and social networking tools available through the site.
The project will be a part of the Midwest Regional Rail System, a 3,000-mile system that will create new passenger rail line connections throughout the Midwest.
The proposed 400-mile Saint Paul-to-Chicago rail line will enter Minnesota at La Crescent and travel north for 150 miles along the Mississippi River through Winona and Red Wing before ending at the Union Depot in Saint Paul. The project will utilize existing tracks between Saint Paul and Chicago and capitalize on substantial investments already committed to the region.
In Saint Paul, the project will include:
- Revitalization of the historic Union Depot.
- Extension of light rail to Saint Paul with the Central Corridor.
- Reconstruction of the Lafayette Bridge.
- Enhancement of the area’s trail and bike system.
The proposed rail line will help reestablish Saint Paul as a multi-modal transportation hub that will connect with the 1-94, the Red Rock, Rush Line, and Robert Street transit corridors.
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