8.1. SR 10-07-2013 City of
Elk - Request for Action
River O.
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 8.1
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
General Business October 7, 2013 Jeremy Barnhart, CODD Deputy Director
Item Description Reviewed by
Northstar Rail-Leigh Lenzmeier Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Receive information regarding the continued development of the Northstar Commuter rail line.
Background/Discussion
Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier, chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority,
wishes to promote the Northstar Corridor,and the recently completed Corridors of Opportunity study.
The study and supporting information can be found on the following website:
http://www.corridorsofopportunity.org/activities/northstar
City staff is using the findings of the study in implementing and evaluating the Comprehensive and
Focused Area Study Plan, as well as in the development of financial assistance programs for desired
businesses.
Financial Impact
N/A
Attachments
N/A
P0WIAEO 0
NaA f RE]
NORTHSTAR
CORRIDOR Northstar Commuter Rail
PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2013 FOCUS
Northstar Commuter Rail serves seven stations on 40 miles of existing track The Northstar Corridor
,
between Big Lake and Minneapolis. Service began in November 2009. Metro Development
Transit is the operator. Limited operating hours serve primarily commuters during recommends
weekday rush hours. At Target Field Station in Minneapolis, commuters can -
transfer to LRT, buses, bike trails, and close by skyways. In 2014, The others " • of.
Interchange, currently under construction next to Target Field, will offer nearly
500 train and approximately 2,000 bus connections daily.
The original vision of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority includes 25
additional miles of Northstar service to St. Cloud, now called Phase 2. Building - to
successfully compete •
PROJECT STATUS
federal • to help
• In its nearly four years of service, the Northstar Line has operated on complete Northstar
time, within budget, and with a stellar safety record. to St. Cloud
• 2012 service changes included lowering fares in August and opening a
new Ramsey station in November.
• Year-to-date, ridership has grown 16.3% over the same period last year.
August had the highest monthly total since opening—representing a PROGRESS TOWARD THE GOAL
24.3% increase over August 2012.
Ridership Grows
• Station cities report increased transit-oriented-development activity. For
example, Big Lake has added more than 130 housing units (some under
0 Aug. 2013 had the
construction), a financial institution and a retail center—all within 1 to 3
miles of the platform. highest monthly
with 82,500 rides.
• Rail is at the heart of The COR and surrounding area in Ramsey. Plans
anticipate 3,900 new jobs, $3.5 million annually in local tax revenues, 0 Big Lake,
and 2,400 housing units (600 built or under construction). The city's Coon Rapids stations
experience shows bankers favor investments near fixed transit corridors.
rank in the . . ten for
• Elk River, Fridley, Anoka, and Coon Rapids—each with completed or growth in usage
proposed developments—are making good use of data provided by the (biennial survey of all Metro
Corridors of Opportunities transit-oriented development study completed "'
in 2013.
Reliable
• Interest remains strong to extend the line to St. Cloud, add more service
to the schedule, and connect to other corridors in a broader transit • on-time
system. Persistence is key. performance . date
exceeds 96%
CONTACTS WWW.MN-GETONBOARD.COM
Sept. I
Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier, NCDA chair I
phone 320-251-0653, email Leigh.Lenzmeier @co.stearns.mn.us
Tim Yantos, NCDA Executive Director
phone 763-323-5700, email Tim.Yantos @co.anoka.mn.us
NORTHSTAR
C O R R I D O R Northstar Commuter Rail
Northstar Commuter Rail Average Weekday Rides
3,300 -- — - - - -
3,100 --- - - - -
2,900 ---
2,700 2013
2,500 2012
2,300 2011
2,100 2010
1,900 2009
1,700 --- --
a�Ja� `�o�e�
O
5a
Northstar link Average Weekday
250
200
150 2013
100 2012
2011 The Northstar Link Commuter Bus
50 2010 runs between St. Cloud, Becker and
0 2009 Big Lake. It meets most trains at Big
Lake, seven days week. On Fridays,
�1a0 tJac� air P�c� �a� >�ca >J J�Jyw "o &0 e,one` Fiat the bus provides a midday route
e�` P 4Q�Z" O� ��Je Oe�a between St. Cloud and Minneapolis,
`' stopping at all Northstar train
stations, except Fridley. The Link is
sponsored by the Northstar Corridor
Development Authority, Stearns and
Sherburne Counties. Metro Bus is
the operator.