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Rochester and Olmsted County, Minn., officials have unveiled a proposed $325 million rail alignment that would reroute the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad Corp.’s (DM&E) line away from downtown Rochester.

Preliminary plans call for the “Southern Rail Corridor” to run about 48 miles from Dover in Olmsted County to just west of Dodge Center. The line would accommodate freight-rail service, provide a right-of-way option for future high-speed passenger-rail service to Chicago and reduce the risk of a train accident in the city involving hazardous materials-carrying rail cars, city and county officials believe. The final alignment for the route will be determined at a later date.

City, county and Mayo Clinic representatives are working with federal and state officials to secure financing for the line. The Mayo Clinic has vigorously fought the DM&E’s attempts to build a line through downtown Rochester as part of its proposed Powder River Basin coal-line project.

"The Southern Rail Corridor represents a high-priority investment that is critical to the region's long-term economic viability, and the safety and security of Rochester and surrounding communities," said John Wade, president of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, in a prepared statement. "A modern regional system of efficient and safe freight-rail service is a vital component to ensuring continued economic growth throughout southeastern Minnesota."

Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty have pledged their support for the proposed line, noting that the project would create construction jobs and potentially preserve Mayo Clinic jobs.

Walz, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will request that the corridor be considered a “high-priority project of national significance” in legislation drafted later this year to reauthorize the surface transportation bill.