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Pelosi: “I came to Minnesota to see the future”

Monday, June 28th, 2010

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.

Tags: Amtrak, Betty McCollum, commuter rail, High speed rail, Jim McDonough, Jim Oberstar, Keith Ellison, Light-rail, Lowertown, Mortenson Construction, Nancy Pelosi, On Board Midwest, Ramsey County, Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority, Saint Paul, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, Union Depot, Washington County
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Transforming a landmark into multi-modal transit hub

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

When it was first built in the late 1800s, the Union Depot was a transit hub for the community. The same number of people that travel through the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport today used to regularly walk through the depot concourse to catch trains. From immigrants coming to Minnesota for the first time to people heading off to war, the Union Depot was an important connection to the rest of the country and an important part of our history.

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.

Tags: High speed rail, Jim McDonough, Mortenson Construction, On Board Midwest, Union Depot
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High-speed rail benefits the entire state

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

High-speed rail along the Mississippi River Route will benefit the state of Minnesota. Not only will it will provide a fast and convenient connection between the Twin Cities and Chicago, the two largest metropolitan areas in the Upper Midwest, plans also call for improvements to rail safety and grade crossing along the route which benefit automobile and freight users. It will also improve the corridor’s capacity for freight rail operations, helping Minnesota commodities reach their destinations faster and opening up all of Minnesota for more economic development through increased regional connectivity.

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

Tags: commuter rail, freight rail, High speed rail, Jerry Miller, Jim McDonough, Minnesota High-speed Rail Commission, Mississippi River Route, National Rail Day, On Board Midwest
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Union Depot Awarded $35 Million Federal Grant

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Congresswoman Betty McCollum announced today that the Union Depot has been awarded a $35 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant.

“We are a huge step closer to making Union Depot a multi-modal transportation hub. We have the right vision and plan for our region, and today we have another investment to move things forward. Today we are celebrating the Obama administration’s commitment to help support and pay for this vision,” said McCollum.

The TIGER grants, which were funded by $1.5 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, were awarded to 51 projects across the country that will have a significant impact on the nation, a region, or a metropolitan area; create jobs; and benefit economically distressed areas. The federal government also gave priority to projects that are construction-ready, that will quickly create and preserve jobs, and that will stimulate rapid increases in economic activity.

“We are closer to making it possible to put thousands of skilled workers back on the job. Trade and labor are proud to stand with business and government to make projects like this happen,” said Harry Melander, president of Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council.

The Union Depot renovations, which were included in the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s comprehensive statewide rail plan, are supported by a strong partnership between the public and private sectors.

“This federal funding is a testament to the strength of our regional collaboration. The hard work of city, county, state, and federal elected officials; our congressional delegation; and the Obama administration has helped turn this idea into a reality,” said Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.

“Years ago, Ramsey County understood what the Depot meant to our history when we worked hard to protect it. Now we can all see how important it will be to our future,” said Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough, chair of the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority. “Today the vision is taking shape, and this grant award is another big step forward for us all. Union Depot clearly has new momentum and critically important support from the United States Department of Transportation.”

The Union Depot renovation project will create hundreds of jobs and will help revitalize economic development in Saint Paul and the entire region.

“The Union Depot project will inspire others to look to Saint Paul as a place they want to visit, live, or bring jobs. My job is to help people understand why this city is a special place, and today’s news makes my job easier,” said Coleman.

Saint Paul’s historic Union Depot was once a bustling hub for the region’s rail traffic. The renovations will transform the train station into a multi-modal transportation hub with facilities for Amtrak, commuter, high-speed, and light-rail transit.

“The Union Depot is more than just a single project for Minnesota. It is part of an entire system that will bring together new ways for people to move from place to place,” said State Representative Alice Hausman. “Minnesota now has a clear vision and a plan for rail transit in our future. The challenge now is to do the work to bring the plan to life. Today is a big step in that direction. The county, the state, and the federal government are invested and committed to making this happen.”

“James J. Hill many years ago understood the importance of this spot as a place to move goods from barges to trains to connect with the rest of the country. The result was a thriving community with a dynamic economy. Today we are taking another step forward to learn from our history as we shape our future,” said Susan Kimberly, interim director of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce.

Click here to view the full list of projects receiving TIGER grants.

For more information, view the following media coverage:

Star Tribune
Pioneer Press
MinnPost
Minneapolis-Saint Paul Business Journal
HometownSource
Minnesota Public Radio
KARE
KSTP

Tags: Betty McCollum, Chris Coleman, High speed rail, Jim McDonough, TIGER grant, Union Depot
Posted in General information | 1 Comment »

Red Rock Supporters Seek Transit Funding at the Capitol

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Today a coalition of elected officials and supporters, led by the Washington County Rail Authority, gathered at the Capitol in a bipartisan effort to support the Red Rock Corridor, a proposed commuter rail corridor from Saint Paul to Hastings.

“We have the chance to reinvent a system that was created 50 years ago,” said State Representative Dennis McNamara from Hastings. “It was new when I was a child. It’s time for us to take advantage of this opportunity and bring new transit investment to this corridor.”

The group asked the Minnesota Legislature to approve bonding appropriations and general funding that are needed to continue planning and building infrastructure. They are seeking $1 million for park and ride facilities in Hastings and a commuter bus along the Red Rock route that will help mitigate congestion during construction efforts.

Funding for the Red Rock Corridor would be a three-for-one investment – as a commuter-rail line, a part of a higher-speed freight line, and a section of the planned high-speed Mississippi River Route. Minnesota would see increased freight shipping, reductions in commuting time, and access to the national high-speed rail network.

They are also asking for $13.5 million to improve the Hoffman Interlocking/Hoffman Yard in Saint Paul and $8.7 million to continue renovating the Union Depot in Saint Paul.

Currently, Hoffman Yard handles 5% of the existing freight transit in the United States and is almost at capacity. This pressure-point is a vital freight link to the rest of the region that must be relieved to expand shipping capabilities and provide additional track space for commuter and high-speed rail.

“Great regions have great transportation systems,” said Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “Growing regions have growing transportation systems that allow employers to move their goods quickly and to give employees more choice in how they get to work. Red Rock is part of a regional vision that will help us keep, grow and attract new jobs.”

On Board Midwest is pleased to see elected officials step forward and take the lead on an important issue such as the Red Rock Corridor and Hoffman Yard. Funding for these projects would make the future of high-speed rail from Saint Paul to Chicago even more of a reality.

“Red Rock and this entire corridor is the next great transit opportunity for Minnesota commuters,” said Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough, chair of the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority. “We have support at all levels of government from the community to the White House. The community supports the vision and together we will not miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

To learn more about the Red Rock Corridor, visit the coalition’s Web site or read articles from the Pioneer Press or Star Tribune.

Note: Long-time rail and transit advocate Commissioner Myra Peterson from Washington County was unable to attend today due to a death in the family. From all of us here at On Board Midwest, we offer our condolences. Myra is a true high-speed rail supporter, and she is in our thoughts.

Tags: commuter rail, Jim McDonough, On Board Midwest, red rock corridor, Washington County
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