ST. PAUL – Legislation Rep. Jim Knoblach, R-St. Cloud, authored to extend Northstar Line commuter rail service to St. Cloud received approval from the House Transportation Policy Committee Wednesday.
The Northstar currently runs from downtown Minneapolis to Big Lake. Knoblach’s bill (H.F. 1722) requires the state to open negotiations with BNSF Railway to extend the Northstar 27 miles west to reach St. Cloud. The proposal adds at least two round-trip departures (one in the morning and one in the evening) between St. Cloud and Big Lake to Minneapolis.
“I am pleased with today’s vote,” Knoblach said. “Since BNSF owns the track, we need to open negotiations with them if we are ever going to get Northstar extended. My concept of better using existing Northstar assets is a cost-effective way of getting service to St. Cloud, which I believe will be of interest to the railroad.”
Knoblach’s bill passed the House panel on a divided bipartisan voice vote and now goes to the House Transportation Finance Committee.
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