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Minnesota’s Northstar commuter rail project got a helping hand June 12 when the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee approved a $53.8 billion 2002 federal transportation package: It includes $10 million to help fund the project’s final design, land acquisition and construction work.



Northstar Corridor officials believe this commitment will provide an additional incentive for state legislators to support a pending proposal to provide equal matching funds. Also, $263 million in state bonding money for the project, which Gov. Jesse Ventura proposed, likely will be discussed in the 2002 legislative session.



The rail system would run on existing tracks between Minneapolis and St. Cloud, Minn.