WINTHROP - Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority board members, community and business leaders told Minnesota Highway Department (MnDOT) officials how important the rail upgrade is to the region Friday at a round table discussion in Winthrop City Hall.
Rail Coalition Executive Director Rob Edwards of Winthrop said it'll take a bi-partisan effort to upgrade the 94-mile rail line between Young America and Hanley Falls.
Despite testimony from several rail coalition board members earlier this year, the Minnesota Legislature cut a $10 million bonding bill in half that would help upgrade the line to 25 mph, 286,000-pound unit trains by 2011.
Total cost of the upgrade including new bridges and crossing gates was estimated at $70 million.
A 2002 upgrade that included a $4.8 million loan from MnDOT and $600,000 from rail shippers, allows 10 mph trains on the line.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is seeking public input for its 2009 statewide freight and rail transportation plan, according to MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel.
"The whole rail arena including is about to be transformed as MnDOT makes rail an integral part of its development," Sorel said. "Our vision is built around inter-modal transportation including freight and high-speed passenger service."
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Dan McElroy said he found his Winthrop visit including the Heartland Corn Products ethanol plant and the new United Farmers Coop (UFC) regional hub enlightening.
"Corn looks the same here, but it's about where it goes and what it does. I didn't realize how vibrant this area is," he added.
Belview City Clerk Lori Ryer said the region's future is heavily dependent on the railroad upgrade.
Catherine Lorenz of the New Auburn Economic Development Authority (EDA) said the railroad and some highway sections should be improved to help accommodate manufacturers who want to move further away from inner cities.
"I can show you some nearby highways that need improvement around here too," Lorenz said.
Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority Chairman Bruce Pinske of Arlington asked Sorel what MnDOT's position was on creating more bonding money for the rail upgrade.
Sorel said more inter-modal transportation applications will be considered as more federal stimulus money becomes available.
"We're about a shovel-ready as we can get," Pinske said.
McElroy called 2009 is a "tight year for bonding with lots of issues on the table."
Former Redwood County Commissioner Gene Short, now the Director of End-O-Line Railroad Park and Museum in Curry, said the upgrade is about jobs.
"We've been working on this for decades," Short said. "We've got a lot of good help and we'll get it done. We appreciate your help."
Redwood Area Economic Development Specialist Julie Rath said she's working on a rail-dependent, green energy development project with Susen Fagrelius of Minneapolis-based John Christopher Madole Associates, Inc.
Fagrelius said the firm is considering locating a $100 million plant that would create 200-300 jobs in Redwood County.
She added that the plant would produce liquified and compressed natural gas from bio gas from a carbon neutral or carbon negative bio-digester.
Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.