Congressman James Oberstar, the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, recently toured the Northstar Corridor and the proposed station site in Elk River. He is a strong advocate of transit alternatives and one of the reasons that the Northstar Corridor is advancing, according to Betsy Wergin, chair of the NCDA Executive Committee. Without the three of them, we couldn't continue our work. When Congressman Oberstar toured the Corridor, he said there was a commitment in Washington to accommodate our growing transportation needs while finding alternatives to building new highways. We must learn from other parts of the country that have experienced the same kind of growth we are seeing now.
Commuter rail is efficient, comfortable and high quality.
This is the future. The NCDA anticipates the first commuter rail riders will be on board in 2003. Unlike light rail, this commuter train will run on existing tracks with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight rail line. Sharing tracks, and the resulting time and cost savings, enables the NCDA to commence service quickly, Wergin said. The Northstar Corridor is the fastest growing region in the state and the third fastest growing metro area in the United States.