In Report zeroes in on eight possible high-speed rail routes, the Post Bulletin's Heather Carlson reports:
Zip Rail critics charge the state is trying to avoid public comment on a completed Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement by stopping work now. The Alternatives Analysis Report is not subject to a public comment period. Heather Arndt co-leader of Citizens Concerned About Rail Line, said work on the report has taken far too long.
"I think they are playing games to intentional stop citizen input," Arndt said.
[MnDOT passenger rail office director Dan] Krom said work on the project took longer than planned because it requires new rail lines to be built instead of being able to take advantage of existing railroads. That makes the project unusual compared to other high-speed rail proposals in the state.
"It is unique. The other projects use existing lines. There is a lot more support I would say on those projects because people are used to trains being there. And I think it makes the development process a lot less cumbersome, too and less costly," he said.
Olmsted County Commissioner Ken Brown said it appears likely that public work on the project will cease, and it will be up to North American High Speed Rail to make high-speed rail between Rochester and the Twin Cities a reality.
"It's not going to happen any other way. This will not be a public project. Can't afford it. Nobody's got the money," he said.
Brown added that he believes the money spent so far on environmental analysis was worthwhile. He said that work helped raise the visibility of the project, helping to attract the interest of the private sector.
He added, "That work won't be wasted. It won't disappear. It will be used by the group that takes it over and runs with it."
In short, the public ponies up the money, but the private group scores a multi-million dollar gift. Carlson reports that $2.3 million was spent on the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement.
In other developments, there's a new MnDOT Zip Rail website.
Photo: Ziprail.
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