10 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

Twin Cities Daily Planet (blog), 5/19:

High speed rail to Rochester moves forward at slow speed

After decades of studies, high speed rail connecting the Twin Cities with Rochester continues to inch forward. Last June, Mike Hicks wrote a solid background piece on ZipRail ahead of the first Environmental Impact Statement public meetings. In it, he recalls going to a public meeting for an older Minneapolis-Rochester-Chicago study public meeting back in 1991.

Despite continued plodding and progress on the ZipRail planning front, the bonding proposal which emerged from conference committee last week does not include $15 million to finish this EIS process. It’s the same $15 million that was sought and denied two years ago. But an update from the study team to the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority earlier this month lends some clues on where this project is headed despite additional funding from the legislature

Continue.

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 7/22/14:

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MinnDOT) has scheduled three public information meetings and is soliciting public input on a draft scoping decision document related to the environmental impact consideration of potential alternatives for the Rochester-Twin Cities Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan (Zip Rail).

Read

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 3/17/15:

Minnesota DOT begins environmental study for Rochester-Twin Cities high-speed rail project

 

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) yesterday announced plans to begin the first of a two-step environmental impact study for the high-speed Zip Rail project linking the Twin Cities to Rochester.

 

The story

[KevinKorell]

Minnesota Public Radio, Minneapolis, MN, 7/4/15:

High-speed rail to Rochester not likely

 

The plan from a private group to build high-speed passenger rail between St. Paul and Rochester probably isn’t going anywhere.

 

The North American High Speed Rail Group had hoped to build the line by cutting the government out of it.

For this story, go here.

[Sloan]

 

 

Private rail group's goals include link to Chicago

 

The ambitions of a private company seeking to build a high-speed rail line from Rochester to the Twin Cities stretch from Minnesota to Chicago and beyond.

http://www.postbulle...a78f315dc1.html

[KevinKorell]

Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN, 1/27/16:

Plan for Twin Cities-Rochester passenger rail line stalls out

The proposed publicly funded Zip Rail high-speed passenger line from the Twin Cities to Rochester may have hit a dead end.

A lack of funds — and interest in a similar project by the private sector — could mean an end to the state’s study process.

Update

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 1/29/16:

Minnesota DOT shelves proposed Twin Cities-Rochester 'Zip Rail' line

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) this week announced it suspended work on the proposed "Zip Rail" high-speed line between the Twin Cities and Rochester, pending action from the Olmsted County Regional Railroad Authority.

The authority is scheduled to vote on a resolution to suspend the project on Feb. 2, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Details

[KevinKorell]

Minnesota Public Radio, 3/2/16:

Minneapolis-Rochester high speed rail decision expected by July

The firm that wants to build an elevated high-speed rail line between Rochester and the Twin Cities will decide by summer if the project goes forward, a company executive said Wednesday.

The story is here.

[Sloan]

 

 

Can a high-speed rail line from Rochester to the Twin Cities be built without any public money?

 

Forces are aligning in Minnesota to bring foreign and domestic funders together on the world’s first privately capitalized high-speed rail (HSR) corridor — a 77-mile, 200 mph train that will connect the MSP region with Rochester.

https://www.minnpost...without-any-pub

[KevinKorell]

Minneapolis, MN Star-Tribune, 12/9/16:

 

Private plan for Twin Cities-Rochester high-speed rail draws pushback

 

 

The prospect of a high-speed rail line slicing through the rural stretch of land between the Twin Cities and Rochester, and financed by Chinese and other private investors, is to some an exquisite dream.

 

To others, it’s folly.

 

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