MN HF3691

The Department of Transportation must negotiate with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) to extend the Northstar Corridor between Big Lake and St. Cloud.

The extension must include at least one morning round trip and one evening round trip on weekdays between St. Cloud Amtrak Depot and Big Lake Station (with continuing service to Target Station), with approximately ten or more hours between departures and returns each day.

BNSF must continue to crew, dispatch all trains, and provide track-related services.

The St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) must handle fare collection and negotiate with Amtrak for station use; the MTC must also negotiate a revenue and expense-sharing agreement with the Metropolitan Council that requires city of St. Cloud approval.

The Department of Transportation cannot commit state funds for capital expenditures or exceed the total operating budget already allocated for the Northstar Corridor, but may seek additional funding from federal, county, city, or development authority sources.