December 29, 2009

Statewide rail plan expected to be released this week

By Kelley Luckstein

Rochester's push to be a stop on a high-speed rail line from Chicago to the Twin Cities appears to be chugging ahead. 

 

Several rail corridors, including Rochester, will be among those chosen for additional environmental analysis as part of the final statewide rail plan, said Dave Christianson, MnDOT project manager. That report is expected to be released this week. The report will recommend that any passenger rail line built in Rochester run from downtown to the Twin Cities.

 

Mayo Clinic and others have pushed the idea of a freight bypass of Rochester and indicated that it could also accommodate passenger rail, but Christianson said any passenger train would need to be based downtown… Southeast Minnesota Rail Alliance spokesman Bryan Anderson said that while building the Rochester line would take time, other potential routes are also likely years out.

 

Post-Bulletin by Heather Carlson, 12/28/09

 

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Tags: Railroad, statewide rail plan

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