advertisement

---

Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) recently began a petition campaign to garner support for the proposed 82-mile, Minneapolis-to-St. Cloud, Minn., Northstar Corridor commuter-rail line.

A coalition comprising 30 counties, cities, townships and regional railroad authorities along the corridor, NCDA started the campaign to urge Gov. Tim Pawlenty and state legislators to support state funding for the line in the 2004 legislative session.

"Transportation investments in the corridor between the St. Cloud-Rice area and the Twin Cities have not kept pace with the incredible growth our region is experiencing," said NCDA chair Duane Grandy in a prepared statement. "Traffic congestion has become a significant quality of life issue for our residents and is also a major threat to the competitiveness of our region’s business."

NCDA initiated the campaign to address business and commuter concerns. Businesses along the corridor are having difficulty moving products and services, attracting customers and moving employees through the area, and residents are facing longer commute times, NCDA officials said.