Greetings,

Governor Pawlenty, Lieutenant Governor Molnau and other Minnesota transportation officials joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Federal Transit Administrator James Simpson this morning for an up-close look at early construction for Northstar Commuter Rail in downtown Minneapolis.

Secretary Peters told attendees and media that Minnesota should be confident that it will receive federal matching funds later this year, which are needed to complete Northstar construction. Northstar is expected to open in late 2009 between Big Lake and downtown Minneapolis.

Read some of the early coverage of the Secretary's visit:

Minnesota Public Radio: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/07/10/northstar/
Star Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1294324.html

When Northstar opens, it will link with Hiawatha LRT and other transportation at a multimodal station in downtown Minneapolis, the area the Secretary and Transit Administrator visited this morning. Nearby, the new Twins ballpark will open in 2010.

We're on the verge of building Minnesota's first commuter rail line, thanks to the ongoing work of supporters like you. Learn more about Northstar's progress, and celebrate with us at the second annual Northstar Night with the Minnesota Twins!

Time is running out to buy your tickets for the August 3 event – especially if you want to be included in a drawing for free tickets to another Twins game.

Go here to print and mail in your ticket order, or call 612-375-7433 today!

For just $29 per ticket, you'll receive:

  • Discounted lower reserved tickets
  • A pre-game event dinner and program (food and soft drinks included)
  • Entrance in a drawing for free tickets to the Twins game on July 31 – if you reserve your spot for Northstar Night by this Friday, July 13
  • And a chance to be one of the first 20,000 Twins fans in the door who will receive a free Twins baseball cap

Buy your tickets today to be part of this new Minnesota tradition!

Sincerely,
Dan Erhart
NCDA Chair