Stimulus funds go to roads, bridges
Rep. Morrow tells MnDOT to be freight rail proactiveBy Fritz Busch Journal Staff Writer
ST. PAUL - It appears the Minnesota Prairie Line (MPL) upgrade project will not get federal economic stimulus funding, but not due to lack of effort.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Dist. 23A Rep. Terry Morrow, D-St. Peter, told Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Coalition members last Friday that the Minnesota Highway Dept. (MnDOT) will spend its $503 million in federal economic stimulus funding on roads and bridges.
The decision did not come until after considerable effort by rail project proponents and perhaps some misunderstanding, according to Morrow.
"It sounds like there was considerable disagreement and perhaps not full understanding on the scope of this funding," Morrow told coalition members.
On Feb. 4, Minnesota Valley Regional Railroad Coalition Chairman Rob Edwards of Winthrop and Committeeman Gene Short of Belview met with elected officials and heard presentations as part of Transportation Day at the Capitol, sponsored by the Minnesota Transportation Alliance.
Edwards and Short presented informational packets detailing upgrade project funding needs of the 94-mile railroad linking Norwood-Young America and Hanley Falls and 13 other communities in between.
The men provided lists of its current shippers, shipping statistics, regional business and local government supporters, new construction job creation, permanent job creation estimates and a summary of improved rail benefits to the region.
Edwards commented on using federal stimulus funding on roads and bridges but not the rail improvement project.
"Certainly I'm disappointed if stimulus funds have all been spent as MnDOT says," added Edwards. "Our project is shovel ready and a certain economic contributor to this entire region.
"Land 'O Lakes just announced it will build an 80,000-square foot distribution facility in Winthrop. One of the primary reasons for this location being the proximity to the rail rehab project," Edwards said.
He added that Morrow and Sen. Sheran worked tirelessly with MnDOT to make sure they had all the necessary project information before a decision was made.
"We were even line-listed on a MnDOT report. It specified that our project should receive $10 million from the stimulus package," Edwards said.
After years of inactivity after the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad abandoned the line, the MPL moves ethanol from the Winthrop Heartland Corn Products plant plus corn, fertilizer, biodiesel and other products on its line.
Rail improvement plans estimated to cost at least $40 million include allowing 255,000-pound rail cars that could travel 25 mph on the MPL.
Morrow told Coalition members he talked to MnDOT about being more proactive on freight rail as part of its multi-modal planning.
On Feb. 26, Minnesota House File 660, authored by Morrow, appropriated $10 million in bond proceeds for a grant to the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority (MVRRA) to rehabilitate track.
He added that a separate pot of money will be available for nationwide rail projects.
Morrow said Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Tim Walz helped appropriate $950,000 in federal railroad improvement funding.
He said his office expects to receive federal guidance on funding criteria and application procedures in the next few months.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).
