DULUTH, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) - The Duluth City Council will decide Monday whether to approve putting more money toward the Minneapolis-Duluth/Superior Passenger Rail alliance.
Entities like cities, counties and tribal bands have been putting funds toward the rail alliance annually as part of an effort.
The $30,000 fee this year for Duluth is about $8,000 smaller than last year.
Former-Congressman Jim Oberstar had been a leader getting the train, but current Congressman Chip Cravaack has had different priorities.
Those running against Cravaack this year have kept the train in mind.
"The candidates that I've spoken to in the race for the 8th District are supporters of the Northern Lights Express, the railway between Duluth and Minneapolis. The current Congressman, Mr. Cravaack is not. He campaigned against it," said Ken Buehler, the Depot's executive director.
The Northern Lights Express now has almost $10-million to put toward engineering expenses.
An Environmental Impact Statement for the rail project should be completed by the end of May on time and on budget.
Buehler says if the Northern Lights Express makes it into the federal transportation bill in 2013, it should become a reality.
Posted to Web by Jena Pike
jpike@northlandsnewscenter.com
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