MNDOT slates meetings for Minneapolis-Duluth higher-speed rail route

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has scheduled four open houses to provide more information on estimated costs, benefits, ridership and service plans for the proposed Northern Lights Express project.

The meetings will provide opportunities to review station location design concepts and learn about the Tier 2 environmental review phase and next steps. Project staff will be on hand to answer questions, MnDOT officials said in a press release.

The open houses are slated to take place on Feb. 24, Feb. 25, Feb. 29 and March 3.

The Northern Lights Express project would establish passenger-rail service between Minneapolis and Duluth, Minn. Operating at speeds up to 90 mph, trains would run on 152 miles of existing BNSF Railway Co. track.


Map of the proposed Northern Lights Express alignment
(Click to view larger)
Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation