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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