The Minnesota Department of Transportation is conducting today’s open house meeting to present the planning and design process for the NLX station, layover and maintenance facility sites that is being conducted as part of Tier 2- Project Level Environmental Assessment.

MnDOT would like to gather public feedback to:

� Learn more about the opportunities and constraints for site alternatives.

� Understand local preferences for facility site locations.

� Help with the selection of preferred sites.

MEETING INFORMATION

� Location of site alternatives under consideration.

� Basic program elements for NLX facilities.

� Working concept drawings for site alternatives.

� NLX background information and progress update.

Please visit the NLX Project website at www.mndot.gov/nlx if you would like to view meeting materials or learn more about NLX.

MEETING PURPOSE

WIS

CON

SIN

MIN

NES

OTA

COON RAPIDS

CAMBRIDGE

HINCKLEY

SANDSTONE

DULUTH

SUPERIOR Area bounded

by I-35, Railroad Street, Garfield Ave and Jeno’s Walk

Union Depot

Downtown

South

South of Oak St

Downtown

Southwest

City Center

Ritchart Property

MINNEAPOLIS

Target Field Station

West of Target Field Station

Foley Blvd

Potential station site

Potential maintenance facility site

Potential layover facility site

KEY

FACILITY SITE LOCATIONS

PUBLIC MEETINGSDecember 2014

SITE ALTERNATIVES WORKING DRAWINGS

SITE ALTERNATIVES FINAL EVALUATIONDecember 2014 / January 2015

PREFERRED SITE SELECTION

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PLANSJanuary / February 2015

PRELIMINARYENVIRONMENTALIMPACTS

and

COST ESTIMATESFebruary / March 2015

PUBLIC MEETINGSSpring 2015

STAKEHOLDER MEETINGSOctober 2014

SITE ALTERNATIVES INITIAL EVALUATION October / November 2014

INITIATE FACILITIES DESIGN PROCESS September 2014

NEXT STEPS

After the public meetings, MnDOT will consider public input and coordinate with the local communities to select preferred facility sites in early 2015. More detailed conceptual site plans and cost estimates will be prepared for the selected sites and presented at a future public meeting in the spring of 2015.

WE ARE HERE

The current planning and design phase for Northern Lights Express station, layover and maintenance facilities began in September 2014 and will continue through spring 2015. The process includes evaluating site alternatives, selecting preferred sites and developing conceptual designs and cost estimates for selected sites. Detailed environmental studies on all selected NLX facility sites will occur through the end of 2015 as part of the NLX Tier 2 – Project Level Environmental Assessment.

FACILITIES DESIGN PROCESS

WHAT IS NLX?The Northern Lights Express is a proposed high speed intercity passenger rail service that would operate between Minneapolis and Duluth on approximately 152 miles of railroad track within an existing BNSF rail corridor.

WHO IS IMPLEMENTING NLX?Planning and implementation of NLX is being coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in consultation with the Federal Railroad Administration, the Minneapolis-Duluth/Superior Passenger Rail Alliance and with cooperation from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF NLX?The purpose of NLX is to provide fast, convenient and affordable intercity passenger rail service between Minneapolis and Duluth that will provide an alternative transportation mode to automobile, bus or plane that is convenient, less stressful and allows passengers to work, socialize, read and do other activities while travelling.

WHEN WILL NLX BEGIN?The initiation of final design and construction for NLX depends upon the availability of funding. If funding becomes available when needed, service could begin as early as 2020.

NLX SERVICE FEATURES

• 2¼ to 2½ hours travel time between Minneapolis and Duluth

• Maximum train speeds between 90 and 110 miles per hour

• Minimum of four daily round trips

• Safe and reliable travel alternative to serve business and tourism

Lake Superior

ISANTI

ANOKA

KANABEC

PINE

DOUGLAS

ST. LOUIS

CARLTON

HENNEPIN

WIS

CON

SIN

MIN

NES

OTA

Minneapolis

Coon Rapids

Cambridge

Hinckley

Duluth

Superior

Minneapolis

Coon Rapids

Cambridge

Hinckley

Duluth

Superior

94

35

35

94

LEGEND

Station

NLX Corridor

NLX OVERVIEW

The successful completion of the Tier 2 EA will position the NLX Project to receive funding

for final design and construction.

PREVIOUS PLANNING PHASE: TIER 1 – SERVICE LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

The previous planning phase, Tier 1 – System Level Environmental Assessment, was completed in 2013 and focused on impacts that affect the corridor as a whole.

A Finding of No Significant Impact was issued by the Federal Railroad Administration on August 21, 2013, which determined that the NLX Project would not have significant environmental impacts and allowed the project to proceed to the next phase.

CURRENT PLANNING PHASE: TIER 2 – PROJECT LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

The current planning phase is the development of a Tier 2 –Project Level Environmental Assessment that builds off the previous Tier 1 EA and takes a more in depth look at the potential social, historic and natural resource impacts of the NLX Project. The Tier 2 EA includes an environmental review of the station, layover and maintenance facility site alternatives and addresses updated ridership studies, operating plans and preliminary engineering activities.

OTHER CURRENT NLX STUDIES

� Station, layover and maintenance facilities planning and design

� Financial and ridership analysis

� Operations planning

� Roadway and grade crossing design

� Track and signal design

� Hinckley loop study

NLX PROGRESS UPDATE

Through early 2016

Complete Tier 1 Service Level Environmental Assessment

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

Ridership Forecasts, Revenue Projections, Benefit Assessment

Identify Locations for Stations and Other Facilities

Define Operating Plan

Preliminary Engineering of Public Roadways and Bridges

Preliminary Engineering of Track and RR Bridges by BNSF

Tier 2 Project Level Environmental Assessment

Tier 2 Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

2016Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4

2013Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4

2014Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4

2015Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4Schedule Timeline

Purpose of today's meeting

NLX TIMELINE

STATION BUILDINGClimate controlled station building with seating, bathrooms and ticket machines

Basic Program Elements

The Northern Lights Express stations will be designed to meet the needs of a modern intercity passenger rail service that will include an enclosed station building, platform and multimodal access and circulation. All stations will be accessible and will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

BOARDING PLATFORM500 foot long platform with warming shelters

PARKINGOn-site short-term and long-term parking

MULTIMODAL ACCESSEfficient passenger, taxi and bus drop off areas; pedestrian walkways and bicycle access

TICKETINGOn-site ticket kiosk machines in passenger waiting area

WAITING AREAEnclosed space for passengers to wait for train

STATION FACILITIES

TRAIN WASHAn enclosed and heated building with an automatic washer system designed to clean locomotives and coach cars

MAINTENANCE BAYSEnclosed structure accommodates two trainsets with maintenance pits and tracks running the entire length of the building

Basic Program Elements

The Northern Lights Express maintenance facility will handle inspection, servicing, maintenance and repair activities required to keep NLX trains in service and provide a place for trains to layover. NLX will require one maintenance facility in either Duluth or Sandstone.

SUPPORT FUNCTIONSEmployee offices, receiving/shipping area with loading dock, spare part storage, work room and other support functions

MAINTENANCE WORKSHOPEnclosed maintenance pit allows employees to maintain and inspect trains

MAINTENANCE FACILITY

Basic Program Elements

The Northern Lights Express layover facilities provides a location away from the BNSF mainline tracks to store one or more complete train sets and perform limited servicing and inspection functions. NLX will need two layover facilities. Potential sites are being considered in Minneapolis, Sandstone or Duluth.

YARD TRACKSThe layover facility site will contain two yard tracks that connect with the mainline tracks on each end of the facility. The site will also include a small support building for the train crew and the maintenance and cleaning forces. Vehicular access points and employee parking will be provided.

LAYOVER FACILITIES

Parking

Station Entrance

Platform 500’

Handicap Parking

Covered walkway

Parking

Parking

Parking

Pedestrian Circulation

2nd Ave NE

1st Ave EB

uch

anan

St

N

Mai

n S

t N

3rd Ave NE3rd Ave NW

2nd Ave NW

Fire Dept.

City Center Mall

Warming Shelter

Warming ShelterCity Hall

Passenger, Taxi & Bus Dropoff

Emergency vehicle movement

Warming Shelter

Interior passenger waiting area

0 100 20050

STATIONFACILITY

CONCEPT

CAMBRIDGE \\\ CITY CENTER

Warming Shelter

Warming Shelter

S M

ain

St

Passenger & Bus Dropoff

Taxi Lane

Station Building

Platform 500’

Handicap Parking

Pedestrian Circulation24th Ave SW

Station Parking

320th Ln NE

Station Parking

Crosswalk0 100 20050

STATIONFACILITY

CONCEPT

CAMBRIDGE \\\ RITCHART PROPERTY

EVALUATION CRITERIA

SITE ALTERNATIVES

CITY CENTER RITCHART PROPERTY

Site ownership and controlWhat is the likelihood of acquiring the site?

City owned; no acquisition required Privately owned; acquisition required

State and city agreement needed Property for sale

Site size and configurationDoes the site accommodate the required program elements?

Site accommodates all station program elements and provides an interior passenger waiting area inside City Center Mall

Site accommodates all station program elements and provides a standalone enclosed station building with wait space

Additional land for parking may be needed Sufficient land available for parking on-site

Internal site access and circulationDoes the site circulate vehicles, taxis, buses and pedestrians?

Site allows for efficient passenger drop off areas and multimodal access

Site allows for efficient passenger drop off areas and multimodal access

Local transportation connectivity Does the site connect to the local transportation systems?

Multiple access points to local road network Local street access available along Main Street

Potential traffic impacts to be evaluated Site not likely to affect local traffic flows

Extensive sidewalk network provides pedestrian friendly connections Limited pedestrian activity

Site already served by existing transit service No existing nearby transit connections

Regional transportation connectivity Does the site connect to the regional transportation systems?

Site is located off MN 95 (First Street) approximately ½ mile directly west of MN 65

Site is located over a mile from nearest access point to MN 65

Physical constraints Does the site have any major constraints with topography, utilities or other physical features?

Relatively flat site Relatively flat site

Sewer/water available Sewer/water available

Railroad operationsDoes the site conflict with railroad operations?

Coordination with BNSF to occur Coordination with BNSF to occur

Platform sufficient distance from nearest intersection allowing gates to remain open while train is at station

No grade crossings in vicinity of station

Environmental resourcesDoes the site impact known environmental resources?

Would not increase impervious surface area or stormwater runoff since site has existing development

Minimal increase to impervious surface area and stormwater runoff as site contains large paved area

Limited vegetation removal

Consistency with local plans and development goalsIs the site consistent with local planning and development goals?

Located within city’s municipal and downtown activity centers

Located away from city’s existing activity centers

Potential to support downtown economic development

Less likely to facilitate local economic development

City Council supports downtown site Avoids existing commercial building that could be reused for commercial purposes

CAMBRIDGE STATION