TO A POINT: When the whistle blows, I'll be on that train

I love the ease of riding a train. It's not like flying these days, which is a complete hassle. At the Beijing airport recently, I went through three (yes, THREE) security checks before I was allowed to board. As soon as I debarked at my next destination, I was routed through another security check. Overkill? you might ask. I certainly think so.
When you fly, you have to get to the airport two to three hours early to allow for standing in line. Then you wait to check in. You wait to walk through security. You wait to board. And you wait for the plane to taxi to the runway. Flying is a whole lot of waiting. It's a waste of time if you ask me.
Now trains, on the other hand, are easy. While in China last month, we took a high-speed train from Nanjing to Shanghai. We got there a little early as we weren't sure about traffic. (Plus, when you're traveling in a place where you don't know the language you have to leave time for possible delays and taking the wrong turn.) We waited for about 1/2 hour and then walked towards the platform. The train got there and we hopped on. We stowed our luggage, then sat down. My husband napped while I read a book and checked out the scenery. A few hours later we were at our destination. It was hassle-free.
I can't wait until we have that option here in east central Minnesota. Hopefully, within five years we'll be able to board a passenger train in downtown Cambridge and head either north to Duluth or south to Minneapolis. You can bet I'll be on the Northern Lights Express -- in fact, I'm hoping to be one of the first onboard.
A few years later, we may also get a specific commuter rail line, one that will be attached to the Northstar line (which will soon be running between Big Lake and Minneapolis). Those trains will run more frequently, not travel as fast and stop more often.
The Northern Lights Express is for high-speed travel. You'll be able to go faster than if by car. Say goodbye to those traffic jams on I35. Goodbye to road rage. Goodbye to stupid drivers and weather-related issues. Say hello to a relaxing way to travel.
The passenger rail task force, which was created by the Cambridge City Council, met for the second time last week. On the agenda was narrowing down the location of the Cambridge depot. According to the TEMS (Transportation Economics & Management Systems, Inc.) report, the depot needs to be downtown Cambridge to take advantage of foot traffic and transportation options. There aren't a whole lot of options within the downtown area (defined as being bordered by Sixth Street on the north and south sides). One can either go to the south or the north. Because of the slant of the tracks, there is more space to the north, which is where the task force members are leaning.
The Cambridge Business Development Corporation submitted the concept of transforming the Cambridge mall into the new depot. It has many advantages, one of the biggest being that the city already owns the building. Thus, no additional money would need to be spent to acquire property. This is good news for the city, as it has to bear the cost of providing a depot; federal funds for the train will only cover the tracks and cars. The depot could be constructed at the rear of the mall building. The space within the mall could be remodeled and retail shops added that cater to travelers, or the space could stay the same -- depending on the market.
Task force members think that it is very important to keep to the TEMS report. This report was commissioned by the overall St. Louis and Lakes Counties Regional Railroad Authority and cost thousands of dollars. The decision by the Passenger Rail Task Force to endorse the TEMS report was unanimous on Sept. 9.
While task force members are leaning towards the mall location, other input is always welcome. To register your point of view with the city, contact Dave Carlberg at 763-689-3211 or email dcarlberg@ci.cambridge.mn.us. After the task force has officially made a recommendation to the city and listed out pros and cons, a public meeting will take place. That meeting could be held as early as November or in January. At that meeting, citizens will be able to ask questions and give their opinions on the choice. Only then will the city council make an official determination on where the depot will be located.
Meanwhile, I'm counting down the days until 2012.