Northstar Line

Northstar Line
Name	Northstar Line
Type	Commuter rail
Locale	Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area
Start	Big Lake
End	Target Field
Stations	11
Opened	November 16, 2009
Owner	Metropolitan Council
Operator	Metro Transit
Line length	40 mi
Tracks	Mostly single track with passing sidings
Map state	collapsed

Northstar Line The Northstar Line is a commuter rail service linking Big Lake and downtown Minneapolis via suburban and exurban communities in the Twin Cities region. It connects major nodes including Coon Rapids, Anoka County, Blaine, and Hennepin County with the Target Field station, integrating with Metro Transit light rail and bus services. The project involved collaboration among the Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Department of Transportation, regional transit authorities, and freight railroads such as BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City.

Overview

The corridor operates on the former Great Northern Railway and Burlington Northern Railroad rights-of-way, paralleling state highways like MN 252 and US 10. Rolling stock and infrastructure improvements were coordinated with agencies including Federal Transit Administration and Minnesota Twins-area stakeholders at Target Field. Service patterns were designed to serve commuters traveling to employment centers in Minneapolis and MSP Airport connections via transit hubs such as Nicollet Mall and U.S. Bank Stadium environs.

History

Planning traces to regional studies by the Metropolitan Council and proposals advanced during gubernatorial administrations including Tim Pawlenty and Mark Dayton. Environmental assessments involved the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board and federal reviews under laws associated with the National Environmental Policy Act. Funding drew from state appropriations, Federal Transit Administration grants, and local contributions from counties like Anoka County and Sherburne County. Construction milestones included track rehabilitation on BNSF corridors and the opening ceremony attended by officials from Minnesota House of Representatives, Minnesota Senate, and municipal leaders from Minneapolis City Council.

Route and stations

The line runs northwest from Target Field through Minneapolis neighborhoods, across Hennepin County into Anoka County with stops in Fridley, Coon Rapids, Anoka, Elk River, and terminating at Big Lake. Stations incorporate park-and-ride facilities influenced by regional planning studies from Metropolitan Council staff and local zoning authorities in cities such as Blaine and Andover. Intermodal links provide transfers to Metro Transit bus routes, connections toward University of Minnesota destinations, and proximity to arterial corridors like Interstate 94 and Interstate 35W.

Operations and rolling stock

Operations are managed by Metro Transit under agreements with the Metropolitan Council and freight operators BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City. The fleet includes diesel locomotives and coach cars procured via federal grants and state procurement processes, with maintenance at facilities coordinated with entities such as Amtrak-style service providers. Dispatching integrates with freight timetables operated by BNSF Railway dispatch centers, and safety systems adhere to standards promoted by the Federal Railroad Administration.

Ridership and performance

Ridership levels have been monitored by the Metropolitan Council and reported to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Early service periods saw ridership influenced by factors including downtown employment trends at institutions like Target Corporation and US Bancorp, availability of park-and-ride lots in Sherburne County and Anoka County, and connectivity to projects such as North Loop redevelopment. Performance metrics consider on-time performance, farebox recovery, and comparisons with other regional services like the METRO Blue Line and METRO Green Line.

Funding and governance

Funding combined federal sources from the Federal Transit Administration and state appropriations authorized by the Minnesota Legislature, with local matches from counties and municipalities including Anoka County and Sherburne County. Governance responsibilities reside with the Metropolitan Council and operational oversight by Metro Transit, while capital projects often required coordination with freight owners including BNSF Railway and regulatory clearance from agencies such as the Federal Railroad Administration and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for environmental compliance.

Future plans and expansions

Proposals for extensions have appeared in planning documents by the Metropolitan Council and Minnesota Department of Transportation, including potential service northward to St. Cloud and eastward connections toward Saint Paul. Discussions have involved funding scenarios presented to the Minnesota Legislature and stakeholder engagement with cities like Elk River, Zimmerman, and regional transit advocates including Transit for Livable Communities. Expansion studies reference federal grant programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration and integrate with metropolitan plans related to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area growth strategies.

Category:Passenger rail transportation in Minnesota