Greetings,

It is time to break ground on the next big step for Northstar Commuter Rail!

Construction of the Northstar station in Big Lake has just begun and will be complete in time for the beginning of Northstar service from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis at the end of next year.

Reaching this milestone would have been impossible without the persistence of supporters like you, so we hope you can help us break ground on your local Northstar station at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 6!

Please click here to RSVP by Monday, May 5.

The event will include remarks from Sherburne County Commissioner Ewald Petersen, vice chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA), Big Lake Mayor Don Orrock, Big Lake City Council and NCDA Member Chuck Heitz and other local and state supporters of the project. An informal, short reception will follow, during which you can see new information about the Big Lake Station.

Progress continues in other portions of the corridor, too. The vehicle maintenance facility in Big Lake and the four-block Hiawatha Light Rail Transit extension are moving ahead quickly. The Coon Rapids-Riverdale Station broke ground on April 29. The groundbreaking for the Anoka Northstar Station is scheduled for May 19, followed by the Elk River Station in late summer. Everything is on target for opening in late 2009.

I hope you can join us as we celebrate the construction of the state's first commuter rail line. Let's get ready to ride the line in 2009!

Dan Erhart
Chair
Northstar Corridor Development Authority