Work that will upgrade the Mississippi River Route for high-speed rail will also help advance plans to create a commuter rail line connecting Hastings and Saint Paul. The Red Rock Corridor is a 30-mile commuter rail line that is anticipated to have stops in Hastings, Cottage Grove, Newport, and Saint Paul’s Battle Creek neighborhood before it connects with the Union Depot and other transit in the metro area.

While plans for the rail corridor are underway, city officials and area business owners are creating their own plans for development around the Red Rock stations. These transit stations will help to stimulate the economy, creating jobs, housing, and business developments.

Our latest video gives you a chance to learn more about the Red Rock Corridor and how communities along the line are planning their own connections to the line.

The Star Tribune published an article this week about the economic development that will result from the Red Rock Corridor.

“When the Red Rock commuter train begins rolling between Hastings and the Twin Cities by the end of the decade, a surge in economic development will be going along for the ride.

“At four planned stops – Hastings, Cottage Grove, Newport and in southeastern St. Paul near Battle Creek Park – train stations are expected to spawn a host of retail and residential projects, Washington County Board members were told Tuesday.”

Read more here.

Dan was recently featured in Finance & Commerce for his work on another Twin Cities-based construction project, Target Field. Like the Union Depot, the construction of Target Field posed several unique challenges, but under Mehls direction, the project was finished two months early and under budget. His work on Target Field is one more reason we’re excited that he’s managing the Union Depot project.

]]> http://www.onboardmidwest.org/blog/2010/06/union-depot-project-team-profile-dan-mehls/feed/ http://www.onboardmidwest.org/blog/2010/06/pelosi-%e2%80%9ci-came-to-minnesota-to-see-the-future%e2%80%9d/ http://www.onboardmidwest.org/blog/2010/06/pelosi-%e2%80%9ci-came-to-minnesota-to-see-the-future%e2%80%9d/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:00:06 +0000 admin http://www.onboardmidwest.org/blog/?p=687 Saint Paul’s Union Depot was once a bustling hub for the region’s rail traffic, serving more than 200 passenger trains a day before it was shuttered 40 years ago. On June 26, the concourse was bustling with traffic once again as Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, joined a growing list of federal leaders who have visited Saint Paul to see for themselves the plans to transform the historic Union Depot into a multi-modal transportation hub.

“I came to Minnesota to see the future,” Speaker Pelosi said at a news conference following the tour. “If we give you the money, we know the dirt will fly. You are a model to the nation, and our hopes are riding with you on this project. This is the future, and this is a lot of money, but a small price to pay to take this region into the future.”

Speaker Pelosi addresses reporters at a news conference at the Union Depot.

Pelosi was joined by Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Congressman Keith Ellison, Congressman Jim Oberstar, and members of the Ramsey and Washington County Boards of Commissioners for a special tour to showcase the history of the building and the plans to restore the concourse and train platforms.

Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough shows Speaker Pelosi artist renderings of the Union Depot after the renovations are complete.

“The project has already put 170 people to work and will employ 3,000 people when construction is in full swing next year,” said Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough, chair of the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority. “Union Depot also plays a key role in the revitalization of downtown Saint Paul, particularly the Lowertown Historic District. The related economic development will create jobs, short term and long term.”

As part of the tour, the group also received a special briefing by Mortenson Construction. The company is working with the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority on the design concepts that will transform the train station into a transportation hub for Amtrak, commuter, high-speed, and light-rail trains, local and interstate buses, bicycles, and pedestrians.

Dan Mehls, director of project development for Mortenson Construction, shows Speaker Pelosi the design concepts for the renovated depot. Pictured are (from left to right) Congressman Keith Ellison; Mehls; Shar Knutson, president of the AFL-CIO; Dan Scott, chair of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce’s transportation committee; Speaker Pelosi; Congresswoman Betty McCollum; Commissioner McDonough; Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt; Ramsey County Commissioner Rafael Ortega; Tim Mayisch, director of the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority; and Congressman Jim Oberstar.

“You all have worked together to bring this project together and all that springs from it,” Speaker Pelosi said. “It’s exciting to see it all. It’s also hard to see why it didn’t happen sooner, but we are here today because it is happening now.”

The renovation is the largest public works project ever undertaken by Ramsey County in partnership with the business community and other governmental agencies. The strong local support and partnerships have helped maintain momentum as the project competes with others around the country for limited federal funding.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (left) takes Speaker Pelosi on a tour of the Union Depot.

“This is a model project for the country on how to come together to work on a project,” said Congresswoman Betty McCollum. “Union Depot construction will start this fall because of the support we see here today.”

Dan Scott, former board chair and current transportation chair for the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, talks with Speaker Pelosi about the partnership between business and government leaders to support transit projects that benefit the entire region.

“The prospects of what [the Union Depot] can become are amazing,” Speaker Pelosi said. “It is dazzling to see the cooperation between business, labor and government. It’s coming together because of leadership.”

One of Union Depot’s strongest supporters, Congressman Jim Oberstar, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the project and the funding needed to complete the construction. The entire project is estimated to cost approximately $240 million, $130 million of which has already been committed. Both Pelosi and Oberstar reaffirmed Congressional support to keep the project on track.

Congressman Jim Oberstar speaks to reporters at a news conference at the Union Depot.

This project has a national commitment. But it could not happen without local participation and the partnerships that have been forged,” said Oberstar. “We should not be a third-world country in passenger rail. We led the way in rail transportation, and we need to bring it back. We are going to get there.”

News coverage

• Pioneer Press
• Star Tribune
• KSTP

For more pictures, visit the On Board Midwest Flickr account.

Pelosi is one of several key national leaders who have come to Minnesota to see firsthand the initial construction at the Union Depot and the plans for the high-speed rail connection between Saint Paul and Chicago.

As different projects around the country continue to compete for federal resources, the Speaker’s visit shows the importance of the project and the Mississippi River Route to the federal government. While Union Depot has a lot of regional significance to our area, it is also a crucial part of the planned national train system.

For more information, read these articles from the Pioneer Press and the Star Tribune.

Check back for more information after Pelosi’s visit.

The two coalitions are asking federal and state elected officials to pledge support for passenger rail because it is crucial to the economic future of Wisconsin and the rest of the region. They would like to see increased frequency of passenger train services now and the introduction of high-speed trains as soon as possible.

On Board Midwest is proud to collaborate with both of these organizations as we work together to bring high-speed rail to our region.

Read more about this collaboration here.

On Friday, May 7, representatives from the Empire Builder High-Speed Rail Coalition, the Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission, and On Board Midwest met in Arcadia, Wisconsin, to continue to build the partnership between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

These three groups are working together to find new ways to support the proposed high-speed and passenger rail upgrades to the existing rail corridor between Saint Paul and Chicago. Wisconsin and Minnesota groups have already individually built support among their own communities and businesses and now are reaching across traditional boundaries as key project decisions are being made.

Scott Rogers, co-chair of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition and chair of the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Committee, and James Hill, coordinator of the LaCrosse-area Empire Builder High-Speed Rail Coalition, discuss ways to build support for rail projects.

“By working together, Minnesota and Wisconsin can have a stronger and more effective voice as key decisions are made for our rail corridor,” said Jerry Miller, mayor of Winona and chairperson of the Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission. “People who live and work in communities from Red Wing and Winona to LaCrosse and Eau Claire understand the impact of what can happen when we work together.”

The group continues to share ideas and information and will meet again in July. On Board Midwest will continue to keep you updated on these meetings.

LaCrosse supports high-speed rail
Part of having a strong partnership involves sharing information and materials with other groups and their audiences. The Empire Builder High-Speed Rail Coalition recently produced a video highlighting the LaCrosse community’s support for new and expanded rail service. This is an important message for all supporters of high-speed rail.

A century ago James J. Hill and other business leaders worked together to invest in our community. Their work to build roads, bridges, buildings, and a network of railroad tracks helped this region grow. They left us a legacy and a challenge to continue building the infrastructure that sustains our economy and livelihood.

Today the business community is carrying on this legacy and meeting this challenge by again working hard to invest in efforts that are good for the entire community. This is why the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and other business groups strongly support On Board Midwest and other efforts to bring new transit to our region. From high-speed rail to light-rail, the business community understands the significance of this opportunity and our role.

Dan Scott, former chairperson of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce met with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood in October to discuss the Union Depot renovations.

We have been challenged to realize that projects like high-speed rail are about more than what is good for one company or a group of businesses. High-speed rail is an investment of millions of dollars in our region that will do more than just create a new way to get to Chicago.

Revamping the state’s rail network will help our marketplace stay competitive at a time when our economy faces significant challenges. Not only will this transit investment bring much-needed jobs and economic development to our region, it will also expand freight service. Saint Paul used to be a major hub for the nation’s freight rail system and Red Wing and Winona flourished because of the jobs that trains brought to each city. But now this vital freight link has almost reached capacity. Upgrades to the freight tracks along the Mississippi River Route will help commodities reach their destination faster. Ultimately, farmers and manufacturers will be able to better reach markets around the world and keep jobs in the state.

The business community needs to continue to support efforts to bring high-speed rail to Minnesota. From funding efforts like On Board Midwest to working closely with government leaders, it is our responsibility to be part of the solution. Leaders before us understood this and accepted this challenge. We need to follow suit to make sure our region does not miss this important opportunity.

Minnesota has a bright future in rail transit. Help support and celebrate that future by attending one of the many National Rail Day events. Events will be occurring at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds and Amtrak stations in Saint Paul, Winona, and La Crosse.

When America’s focus turned away from rail transit, Ramsey County officials and others worked hard to preserve the Union Depot building. In addition to preserving a landmark, they knew that the depot could once again be a vital connection.

Today renovation work to restore Saint Paul’s Union Depot as a transit hub is well underway. The work will transform the Union Depot into a multi-modal hub with facilities for high-speed, commuter, freight, bus, bicycles, and light-rail services.

The new vision for this amazing building is to bring many forms of transit together in a single location. This video animation shows a preliminary concept of the different pieces coming together.

The Mortensen Construction team has started the design and engineering phase of the project and is testing several sections of the 33-acre site. Throughout the project, Mortensen will work carefully to preserve the historic sections of the train station, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Just a few years ago, this project was struggling to gain momentum. But thanks to support from local, state and federal officials, the Obama administration recently awarded Ramsey County a $35 million Tiger (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant in February for the design and engineering work currently being completed.

According to Jim McDonough, Ramsey County commissioner and head of the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority, high-speed trains from Chicago could start rolling into the Union Depot as soon as 2014.

Read more about the renovation work here.

That’s why the Minnesota Legislature asked the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to create a unified vision for rail in our region. After months of research, public outreach, and high-level planning, the state’s transit experts created the vision and context that will help rail projects around the state connect to each other.

The plan, which was formally adopted by MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel on February 9, 2010, integrates multiple types and routes of transportation, including high-speed, light-rail, commuter, and freight transit. It also identifies the Mississippi River Route as a viable high-speed rail corridor connecting the Twin Cities and Chicago.

“A priority in the plan is intercity passenger rail service between Chicago and the Twin Cities,” said Sorel. “While the corridors for the project have yet to be determined, the connection would support development and economic competitiveness of the Midwest and provide an alternative to automobile and air travel.”

MnDOT estimates that the 20-year capital costs for freight and passenger rail will be between $6.2 billion and $9.5 billion (uninflated). This total assumes $2.2 to $4.4 billion of private investment for freight improvements and $4.0 to $5.1 billion in federal, state, local and additional private investments for passenger rail development.

“This plan recommends that the rail system be developed incrementally with a goal of implementing key passenger services and preparing projects for federal funding as it becomes available,” said Sorel.

On Board Midwest has been a proud partner with MnDOT throughout the planning process. We have attended meetings, promoted forums, and shared news with supporters and other key audiences to support MnDOT’s vision. We are excited that the plan recognizes the importance of the Mississippi River Route, but we also understand that there has to be a regional approach to transit investment. We stand ready to continue to work with MnDOT and all of its partners to bring transit to Minnesota.

The supporters of rail transit in Minnesota will be celebrating National Train Day this Saturday, May 8, at Amtrak’s Midway Station and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

High-speed rail will add six round trips between the Union Depot in Saint Paul and Union Station in Chicago and reduce the travel time between the two cities to 5.5 hours. Additionally, shared track arrangements with freight railroads will increase in rail capacity by 80% allowing for improved freight operations and the introduction of high-speed and commuter rail services, a three-for-one benefit.

High-speed rail will directly create 15,000 construction jobs and 57,000 permanent jobs in the Midwest. Minnesota alone will benefit from the creation of 1,600 permanent jobs and $2.3 billion in economic impact. These economic benefits will help increase commerce opportunities and encourage businesses to expand their operations more widely across the region.

To ensure Minnesota receives the economic, mobility and safety benefits of high-speed rail, local elected officials from Saint Paul to La Crescent have come together to form the Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission (MHSRC). The commission is a strong proponent of and advocate for the development of Minnesota’s first high-speed rail line along the Mississippi River.

“High-speed rail will benefit communities along the river as well as those connected to them,” said Winona Mayor Jerry Miller, who is chair of the MHSRC. “The River Route is just the first route of a larger rail vision endorsed by the commission and the Minnesota Department of Transportation that will connect the entire state with high-speed and passenger rail lines,” said Miller.

The River Route is just one part of a 3,000 mile network of high-speed rail corridors throughout the Midwest. The federal government has made high-speed rail a priority by awarding the corridor an $823 million grant for construction efforts from Madison to Chicago and planning efforts from the Twin Cities to Madison.

“Minnesota’s rail vision is larger than just the commission and that is why we are focused on working with our partners at the state, local, and national level to make high-speed rail along the River Route and throughout Minnesota a reality,” said Miller.

After 15 years of planning, the dream of high-speed rail in Minnesota is closer to being a reality. The MHSRC will continue to play an important role throughout our region. On Board Midwest is proud to be a partner with the MHSRC on this effort.

The commission and other supporters of high-speed rail will be celebrating National Train Day this Saturday, May 8, at Amtrak’s Midway Station and the Minnesota State Fair Grounds.

MHSRC members include:
• City of Cottage Grove
• City of Goodview
• City of Hastings
• City of Lake City
• City of Red Wing
• City of Saint Charles
• City of Saint Paul
• City of Saint Paul Park
• City of Utica
• City of Wabasha
• City of Winona
• Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority
• Goodhue County Regional Railroad
• LaCrosse Area Planning Committee
• Prairie Island Indian Community
• Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority
• Wabasha County Regional Railroad Authority
• Washington County Regional Railroad Authority
• Winona County Regional Railroad Authority