PICKING UP STEAM

Isanti County endorses Cambridge as site of passenger rail depot

CAMBRIDGE – Recognizing that Cambridge is a regional trade center the Isanti County Economic Development Authority has endorsed locating the new train depot there.
There is competition for the site of the new Northern Lights Express depot, particularly by those in Isanti County's southern township, Athens.
Resolutions such as the one the county EDA approved on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008 will help solidify the Cambridge location, pointed out Cambridge Business Development Corporation President Bob Guetschoff. He was speaking to the recently formed task force that is evaluating the best location for a depot. The group met for the first time on Aug. 12.
"The more resolutions we can have from county groups, cities and chambers that support this train the easier it will be to get this accomplished," Guetschoff said.
Cambridge City Administrator Lynda Woulfe noted that Cambridge receiving the depot "is not an absolute 100% deal." But the city is dedicated to making it impossible to pick any place but Cambridge. "We are trying to be in front of the train," she said.
"It is ours to lose," remarked Guetschoff.
Towards this end the city hopes to identify a depot location and solutions to the congestion on Highway 95 by the end of this year.
EDA SUPPORT
The resolution passed by the county EDA pointed to the fact that the city of Cambridge, particularly the downtown area, was identified by the consultants hired by the St. Louis & Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority.
TEMS, Inc. favors a downtown location due to the depot being within walking distance to major trip generators, employment and activity centers. These include the Cambridge Medical Center, which employs over 900 people and treats 131,000 outpatients annually; the Cambridge Campus of Anoka-Ramsey Community College which enrolls 4,876 full-year equivalent students; and GracePoint Crossing senior living community which employs 508 people.
Another advantage to the Cambridge location is the dedicated city bus which is part of the bigger Heartland Express system that stretches out over two counties.
Cambridge is bisected by two heavily traveled state highways, 95 and 65, which carry an average of 23,000 and 13,000 vehicles a day.
Cambridge has been identified as a regional trade center, pulling in shoppers from a trade area that includes 103,645 people and stretches up to Pine City.
NORTHERN LIGHTS EXPRESS
The idea of reinstating the passenger train from Duluth to Minneapolis has been in the cooker for several years. However, it is only within the last year and one-half that it really began to pick up steam.
A group of county commissioners (including Isanti County Commissioner Larry Southerland) and city representatives from Duluth to Minneapolis began meeting once a month. Each entity chipped in money to help fund a feasibility study. An environmental impact study (EIS) is being done this summer.
This inter-city rail line is different from the commuter rail also being proposed that would link Cambridge up to the Northstar line running between St. Cloud and Minneapolis.
The project is supported by Congressman Jim Oberstar, who heads up the House Transportation Committee.
The Northern Lights Express Line will be part of a larger system, linking to Chicago and then crisscrossing the United States.
The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act has been approved by both the House and the Senate. A few details (such as whether to privatize the system) remain to be worked out in committee meetings once the Legislature resumes session. The bill will pour $850 million into rail projects across the county, grants which the Northern Lights Express line is eligible for. Federal funds will pay for 80% of the estimated $362 million it will cost to upgrade the tracks and purchase the trains.
Each community where a depot will be located is responsible for paying for the construction of a depot.
This is one reason using the existing city-owned mall is so attractive. Transforming the mall into a depot is being proposed by the Cambridge Business Development Corporation, which intends to present its plan to the task force in September.
POTENTIAL DEPOT LOCATION: CAMBRIDGE MALL
Guetschoff briefly explained why the CBDC chose the mall. It is the largest space between Main Street and the railroad tracks. It is close to the Highway 95/Main Street connection. And the mall is already a city-owned building, which would cut down on the costs of establishing a depot.
The plan being proposed would add onto the building in the back to create a platform next to the train tracks and an enclosed waiting area. The front of the mall would be renovated and a large clock tower added. The inside could remain the same, with the exception of cutting in a hallway through to the back. Or, it could also be renovated to make way for shops that would cater to travelers.
The neighborhood to the north of the mall could be redeveloped with additional parking, restaurants, offices and condominiums.
Since the idea was made public in July only one negative call was made to city hall about the idea, according to Cambridge Community Development Director Dave Carlberg. Several home owners in the area being proposed for possible redevelopment called to ask for advice on whether to re-roof or re-side their homes. One asked if the city wanted to purchase their land now.
"I was amazed," said Carlberg. "I expected some fall-out."
NEXT STEPS
The task force intends to work fast to identify a location. The group will meet the second Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. Members include Susan Morris, George Larson, Bob Voss, Pat Johns, Nicki Klanderud, Jon Ward, Bob Guetschoff, Greg Carlson, Kim Erickson, Mark Anderson, Jackie Forner, Marlys Palmer, Dave Schornstein and Tesha M. Christensen.
Criteria for site selection will include a location in the downtown area with enough space for parking. The group intends to follow the TEMS report as closely as possible. The task force will also consider how traffic will be affected by potential depot locations, and whether there are links for pedestrians.
First steps will include defining who the users of the train will be and where they will be going once they hit Cambridge. The group will also list options for transporting people once they alight from the train to where they want to go, be it the college, medical center or canoeing on the Rum River.
Guetschoff suggested that a future step for the group be identifying tourist destinations throughout the entire county.
"I think this will be outstanding for our downtown area," said George Larson, the Isanti County Commissioner who represents the city of Cambridge.
Along with picking a specific depot site, the task force will also evaluate how to solve the congestion along Highway 95. Members intend to review the information gathered by the Highway 95 Task Force last year, specifically focusing on a possible railroad bridge.


ABOUT THE INTER-CITY PASSENGER TRAIN
• The line will begin with eight trains
• Trains will travel at a maximum of 110 miles per hour. High speed will be in remote areas; trains will sow down in highly-populated towns.
• Crossings between Duluth and Minneapolis will be double-armed, and no vehicle will be able to sneak through.
• Train line is expected to bring $40-60 million in economic benefits to Cambridge.
• Federal funds will cover 80% of the project.
• Each city is responsible for providing its own depot.
• An estimated 100,000 people will get on and off the train in Cambridge each year. This number does not include anyone using the train to commute daily to work.
• The passenger rail line is expected to change its function and perform more as a commuter line from Cambridge south. However, this line is not the same as the Northstar commuter train being proposed. The cost to ride this high-speed line will be higher than the commuter train which will have more stops.
• There will be 6 stops: Minneapolis, Coon Rapids, Cambridge, Hinckley, Superior and Duluth.
• At the south end, passengers will debark at the new Twins stadium.
• A loop may bring riders straight to the casino in Hinckley.
• The ride from Duluth to Minneapolis will be two hours, less than the time it would take to drive a car. The ride from Cambridge to Minneapolis will be 35 minutes.
• The cost of riding from Cambridge to Minneapolis will be an estimated $15.