Imagine you were in a region that was growing and had a transportation problem. Imagine you had a grade separated rail line into the heart of the city, connecting with other rail lines. Imagine this line already had two stations constructed. Imagine this line passed through some high density neighborhoods without stopping. Imagine you already […]
I am interviewed by Pat Doyle in the Star Tribune: Northstar cuts fares by as much as 25% to lure more riders : “”We are a brand-new system and kind of have to play with price and demand to get it right,” said Ed Byers, deputy chief operating officer for commuter and light rail at […]
Bus Driver Dude says: Northstar Shutdown Due to Derailment (Heavy rains last night (really heavy) led to a BNSF derailment). (Via Mulad.)
edited April 8 to distinguish revenue and subsidy Among the reasons put forth by Northstar advocates for its un-success to date is the un-construction of several potential stations. Ramsey Town Center is a well-documented boondoggle. The lack of a Coon Rapids-Foley Boulevard station, at the intersection of Northstar and Hwy 610 is more plausible as […]
When Northstar Commuter Rail line was just a glint in the eyes of exurban Republicans, they distributed this promotional material (on the right (dated March 5, 2003 in my files)). Ridership has not come close to promised. From Finance and Commerce a few months ago: “Ridership on the Northstar commuter rail line will be about […]
From the Pioneer PressNorthstar rail line’s birthday wish: more riders “As the Northstar Commuter Rail line nears its first birthday, ridership has fallen below expectations. A week after it was announced that plans to expand the rail line to St. Cloud have been shelved, officials released numbers showing ridership is about 5 percent below projections. […]
Strib: Man killed by Northstar commuter train Man killed by Northstar commuter train By BOB VON STERNBERG, Star Tribune Last Update: September 1, 2010 – 10:32 AM A railroad worker was killed in Anoka County early Wednesday morning when he was hit by a Northstar commuter train. It was the first fatality — and first […]
Cities along Northstar corridor wait for development by Ambar Espinoza, Minnesota Public Radio December 7, 2009 St. Cloud, Minn. — Minnesota’s first commuter rail line has been up and running for three weeks now, but it has yet to spur any development along the route of the train. The article implies Northstar has failed because […]
From MinnPost: All aboard! Northstar glides into the sunrise Northstar opened today – the Twin Cities can check one more urban gadget off the list, we now have (technologically incompatible) commuter rail and light rail. Take that cities with only one rail mode.
Ailene Croup writes “ Passenger rail between the Twin Cities and Duluth: How a monster was born and raised” in the StarTribune, and mentions my name … David Levinson spoke to community members at that time, informing them that passenger rail does not make enough money to pay for itself. It is subsidized by tax […]
