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Chicago-Minneapolis/St. Paul High-Speed Rail Corridor
Midwest Regional Rail Initiative Phase 7 Work
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You can submit your comments online by using the comments page.

 

About MWRRI

 

The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative (MWRRI) is a cooperative, multi-agency effort that began in 1996 and involves nine Midwest states (Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin) as well as the Federal Railroad Administration. MWRRI Information Page

 

 

 

 

Public Input Sought on the Proposed Twin Cities - Milwaukee Segment of the High Speed Rail Corridor to Chicago

 

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is hosting two open houses and one webinar in December to solicit public comment on the recently completed Draft Alternatives Selection Report for the proposed Twin Cities to Milwaukee section of the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail corridor to Chicago.

 

The public information meetings and webinar will be held:

 

Monday, Dec. 12, 2011
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Stillwater Public Library

Margaret Rivers Rooms A&B
224 Third Street North
Stillwater, MN  55082
(651) 275-4338

 

Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Winona County History Center

Wanek Hall

160 Johnson Street
Winona, MN  55987
(507) 454-2723

 

Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Webinar: http://mndot.adobeconnect.com/mwrriphase7-webinar12142011/
Agenda (PDF 78 KB)

Presentation (PDF 1.8 MB)

Instructions for Joining va Adobe Connect (PDF 236 KB)

Conference call-in number: 1-800-591-2259
Participant code: 697770

 

Public comment will be taken at the open houses, webinar, and through MnDOT’s website at www.dot.state.mn.us/passengerrail/mwrri/phase7.html beginning Dec. 12.

 

The public also may submit comments from Dec. 12, 2011 to Jan. 12, 2012 by:
Email: MWRRIPhase7@state.mn.us
Fax: 651-366-4248
Phone (leaving a recorded message): 651-366-3199
Mail: Minnesota Department of Transportation
Passenger Rail Office
Mail Stop 480
395 John Ireland Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55155

 

MnDOT representatives will be available at the open houses and webinar to answer questions. There will be a brief presentation at 5:30 p.m.

 

To request an ASL interpreter or other reasonable accommodation for either open house, call Janet Miller at 651-366-4720 or 1-800-657-3774 (Greater Minnesota); 711 or 1-800-627-3529 (Minnesota Relay). You may also send an e-mail to janet.rae.miller@state.mn.us. (Please request at least one week in advance).

 

The Federal Railroad Administration approved the recommendation in the Draft Alternatives Selection Report, which describes the methodology and analysis that was conducted to identify "reasonable and feasible passenger rail alternative(s)". The report identifies one route, (Route 1; the existing Amtrak route from: Milwaukee-Watertown-Portage-Tomah-La Crosse-Winona-Hastings-St. Paul-Minneapolis) as the most reasonable and feasible passenger rail alternative. The route provides an opportunity to incrementally use a reduction in travel time and increase train frequency by phasing the build-out of the route, according to the report. This phased approach recognizes the constraints associated with funding requirements for major infrastructure improvements and is consistent with the Minnesota Statewide Rail Plan. A picture showing Route 1 is provided below. Click on the links below for project documents:

 

 

 

Milwaukee-Twin Cities Identification of Reasonable and Feasibile Rail Alternatives Map

Click on the map to view larger version

 

Next Steps

The next step in the project is to identify the preferred passenger rail alternative within a Tier 1 EIS document. The reasonable and feasible passenger rail alternative and a no build alternative will be evaluated to identify the preferred passenger rail alternative. The alternatives are evaluated based on:

 

 

Using the information gathered, a Draft Tier 1 EIS will be produced. A Final Tier 1 EIS will be circulated after agency reviews and public involvement hearings. A draft Record of Decision (ROD) will be completed, and once approved by FRA, a final ROD will be issued.

 

The Chicago-Minneapolis/St. Paul corridor program is part of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, which seeks to create a network of high-speed passenger rail corridors in the Midwest to provide business and leisure travelers with shorter travel times, additional train frequencies, and connections between urban centers and smaller communities.

 

 

 

 

 

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