In the TwinCities area, the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) Executive Committee, after careful review of the Federal Transit Administration's required technical analysis, decided to recommend to the Authority that the federal application for the extension be placed on hold.

"This decision has not been made lightly," said Dan Erhart, NCDA Board Chair. "The public has entrusted us to be good stewards of taxpayer money. After long discussions with our partners on the Project Management Team, including the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Metro Transit, we've decided that the data cannot justify the costs of expanding Northstar at this time.

"The worst recession in 70 years, high unemployment rates, shifts in traffic volumes and gasoline and parking price fluctuations have affected ridership growth on the current commuter rail line," he said. "And projected ridership for the extension to St. Cloud and other factors don't meet the strict standards for federal matching funds. It means we could not successfully compete against other transit projects currently in development around the country.

"Thanks to supporters, Northstar Commuter Rail has proven to be a reliable transit option for commuters," Erhart noted. "Northstar customers already have ridden more than 16 million passenger miles. We've been able to add special event service to Twins and Vikings games. In addition, Northstar has operated on time 96 percent of the time with operating costs below budget.

"Metro Transit will continue to work closely with us to ensure Northstar provides convenient commuter and special event service to build ridership," he said. In addition, the NCDA and St. Cloud Metro Bus will focus on building ridership on the Northstar Link. The Link provides a bus connection between St. Cloud and the train station in Big Lake, plus the bus provides a new Friday midday round trip between St. Cloud and Minneapolis, with stops in between."

Erhart continued: "Northstar is a comfortable, convenient and safe way to commute. With the public's commitment to ride Northstar, we will continue to make Northstar's first phase an even bigger success and we'll continue to build momentum for the future of Northstar to St. Cloud."