All aboard for K.C. and Fargo? It could happen

You could soon be singing “Kansas City, here I come” as you climb aboard a southbound train in the Twin Cities. Or you could turn around and head northwest to Fargo.

Such rail-riding adventures might be on the way with HF3176.

Sponsored by Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL-Spring Lake Park), it would require the state to apply to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program for planning and development of two intercity passenger rail corridors that would originate in St. Paul, one line ending in Kansas City, the other in Fargo, North Dakota. And it would appropriate $1 million in General Fund dollars for the purpose.

On Monday, the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee derailed it, as amended, on a split-voice vote.

While one of the proposals merely lists Fargo as the destination at the other end of the line, the route to Kansas City would also include stops in Northfield and Albert Lea.

“These stations tend to do a lot of economic development around them and bring some of these small cities back to life,” Koegel said.

The state would need to provide matching funds to obtain federal grants for the projects, which would only be available for Minnesota’s share of program costs.

“In 2021, when Congress passed the [Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act], $36 billion were set aside for federal-state partnerships to advance passenger corridor rail service throughout the nation,” said Brian Nelson, president of All Aboard Minnesota. “In 2022, the Federal Railroad Administration advanced 59 applications in seven states around the Upper Midwest. The reason they’re investing in passenger rail is due to the success they’ve seen in ridership growth and farebox recovery for services in their state.”

Nelson cited the Borealis route between St. Paul and Chicago as a success story under the program.

“In its first year, it exceeded ridership estimates by over 50%,” he said. “And these are new riders. They are not cannibalizing riders from the current Amtrak Empire Builder service in this corridor.”

Similarly, a new line between St. Paul and Fargo would run in addition to the Empire Builder’s once-daily travel in each direction.

The committee’s co-chair, Rep. Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville), opposes the bill.

“We do not have supplemental budget targets,” he said. “We’re spending money here, and we don’t know that our committee will be able to do that.”

“Under this, there would be an additional daylight train between Fargo and the Twin Cities,” Koegel said. “And it would benefit so many communities along the way, like Detroit Lakes, Little Falls, Camp Ripley. … I’d suggest you get on board.”