Greetings,

State legislators are expected to vote Monday, May 14, on the Omnibus Transportation Finance bill, which contains items necessary for Northstar Commuter Rail's success. We need your help to make sure legislators fully support it.

Please contact your legislators right away and urge them to support the transportation bill. Contact your Senator and Representative here.

The transportation bill will benefit Northstar, the state's first commuter rail line, in three ways. It will:

• Include a metro sales tax dedicated specifically to transit funding, which will provide funding for Northstar's operations when it begins expected service in late 2009.
• Allocate $250,000 for studies of the feasibility of a Phase Two of Northstar, extending the commuter rail line from Big Lake to Becker, St. Cloud and Rice.
• Begin to set the stage for state funding for Phase Two construction costs by identifying a source of revenue.

It’s critical for legislators to hear from Minnesotans today who believe investments in a variety of transportation options such as Northstar are important. Thank you for your help in securing support for a comprehensive transportation system that will better connect our region and state.

Dan Erhart
NCDA Chair