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Tim Post
St. Paul, Minn.

Big Lake Northstar station breaks ground

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Tracks through Big Lake
These tracks owned by the Burlington Northern Sante Fe railroad cut through Big Lake, and run along the fast-growing Highway 10 corridor of the Twin Cities. These tracks would also carry the Northstar commuter rail line.
MPR file photo

Construction of a Northstar commuter rail station in Big Lake begins today.

The Big Lake station will be at the end of the $320 million dollar Northstar commuter rail line out of downtown Minneapolis.

Northstar Development Authority Chair Dan Erhart says by the fall of 2009, commuters will be able to hop on a train in Big Lake and be in downtown Minneapolis in about 40 minutes.

Northstar route
The proposed route for the Northstar commuter rail line, from Minneapolis to St. Cloud.
Image courtesy of Northstar Corridor Development Authority

"During any kind of morning type normal congestion, you'll be able to get downtown Minneapolis faster than an automobile," Erhart said.

Construction on a Northstar rail station in Coon Rapids began last week. In two weeks ground will be broken for a station in Anoka and construction starts later this summer on another rail station in Elk River.

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Tracks through Big Lake
These tracks owned by the Burlington Northern Sante Fe railroad cut through Big Lake, and run along the fast-growing Highway 10 corridor of the Twin Cities. These tracks would also carry the Northstar commuter rail line.
MPR file photo
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