Traveling to the Twin Cities is about to become a whole lot easier!
Thanks to widespread support, Minnesota’s State Rail Plan was revised in 2015 to include a new regional passenger rail corridor designation connecting south central Minnesota from Albert Lea to the Twin Cities using existing rail line through Northfield!
Albert Lea - Twin Cities Passenger Rail Corridor
connects south central Minnesota to the wider statewide network of regional passenger rail corridors designated to reunite Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities using existing rail.
Ready for Study
Two routes are identified for study: both connect to St. Paul Union Depot and Minneapolis Target Field Station using an existing rail line that also connects to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Inter-campus Busway.
AND there is more! . . .
Re-Connecting Southern Minnesota!
In Southern Minnesota, an east-west rail line connects with the north-south rail line at Owatonna, to afford additional passenger rail service to Mankato, Waseca, Rochester/DMC-Mayo Clinic and Winona - where inter-state passenger rail service is available to Chicago and Seattle!
And That's Not All! . . .
A Double Benefit for Minnesota!!
In addition to serving in-state travel demand, the rail line continues south of the Minnesota border to cities including Des Moines, Kansas City, Wichita, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio!
Along the way, the inter-state reach of the line - from St. Paul to San Antonio, introduces a north-south "spine line" for the Nation's passenger rail system that connects all of the long distance passenger trains that currently serve the American West and Southwest, AND opens a time saving short cut to and from Minnesota from the south, for the millions of rail passengers who travel aboard those routes each year!
Moving Forward!
The next step needed to move this train forward is a Corridor Study by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to determine project details including routes, station stops and the infrastructure upgrades needed to accommodate unimpeded freight and passenger service on the corridor.
Bills are introduced in the Minnesota House and Senate (HF1393/SF2365) authorizing the funds needed to complete for the Albert Lea Twin Cities Corridor Study.
This is where YOU come in!
Help us Catch This Train for Southern Minnesota! Email and call State Representatives (Find their emails HERE) to urge their support for the Albert Lea-Twin Cities Passenger Rail Corridor Study (HF1393/SF2365), and (HF3160/SF3634) which authorizes the bond revenue needed to re-introduce passenger service to the wider statewide network of existing rail corridors designated in the Minnesota Statewide Rail Plan!
