Student, union, faith and business groups back train extension to St. Cloud

Feb. 23-- Feb. 23--ST. CLOUD -- Access to train transit is a health care issue, explained Heidi Larson to a group of lawmakers visiting St. Cloud City Hall.

Her father got a heart transplant in Chicago, and their access to the Amtrak train made the required aftercare possible, Larson said Friday. She also traveled to and from the Twin Cities for her father's health care and now she makes the trip for her own treatments.

Larson spoke in support of an extension of the Northstar commuter train Friday before a special St. Cloud hearing of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Division.

"I know I'm not the only one that would benefit from Northstar," Larson said. "I'm too fatigued. Right now I drive to the cities three times a week."

Many of the 50-plus people who testified at the transportation hearing spoke about the train. Others talked about the state's gas tax, highway safety, and funding for road and bridge improvements. The hearing drew well over 100 people.

St. Cloud Rep. Dan Wolgamott, a DFLer, pitched his bill to fund the initial steps of a Big Lake-to-St. Cloud expansion of the Northstar train route. Sartell Rep. Tim O'Driscoll, a Republican, pitched two of his measures that would help small communities fund road and bridge improvements.

The committee didn't take action on the bills, but members listened to more than three hours of comments.

Some witnesses raised concern about the cost of the Northstar expansion. Others from faith groups, universities, businesses and unions asked lawmakers to prioritize the train for myriad reasons -- from improving access to health care and jobs to encouraging economic development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"Our board has supported Northstar since the beginning," said St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce President Teresa Bohnen, hearkening back to the 1980s. "We would welcome the next phase and encourage you to finish what's been started."

Senior Brendan Klein surveyed fellow students about Northstar as a student coordinator at St. John's University's Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy & Civic Engagement. About 500 students said they would use or would be interested in using the train, he said.

Student government has been looking to help students get to the Twin Cities airport, Klein said. Students have to pay for a ride service or bum a ride from friends or friends' parents. The train would be cheaper and safer and get students to jobs, interviews and sporting events, Klein said.

To Claudia Zavala, the train would help reduce the local impact of commuters on climate change. The 21-year-old Sauk Rapids resident called the train expansion an opportunity to cut into carbon emissions, which raise security, public health and economic concerns.

"With full occupancy, commuter rail transit generates the lowest CO2 emmissions per passenger mile, compared to every other method of transportation," she told the committee.

On the other side of the issue, John Palmer told committee members that fares don't support the full cost of the Northstar.

Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, said the line is already heavily subsidized and asked Wolgamott if his plan would drive the subsidy down.

"The time for kicking the can down the tracks is over. The time for investment is now," Wolgamott responded.

The full cost of the expansion remains unknown, but Wolgamott's bill would delve into the planning and initial expenses. His proposal includes $6.5 million from bonds and $850,000 from the general fund. The $850,000 is for initial analysis, and the $6.5 million would go deeper toward design, environmental mitigation, land acquisition and capital improvements.

The measure will be considered as part of a spending bill later, said the committee's Chairman Rep. Frank Hornstein, D-Minneapolis.

As she wrapped up her remarks, Larson shared that she has her own health issue requiring doctors in St. Cloud, the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Rochester and one in New York City.

"People in Central Minnesota deserve the same health care as you from the Twin Cities that have multiple hospital systems," Larson told committee members.

Nora G. Hertel: 320-255-8746, nhertel@stcloudtimes.com and on Twitter @nghertel.

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