Legislative Update
Afternoon Friends,
It feels like winter is over, so bring on spring and March! We know there will be at least another snowstorm or two, but the end is near!
The legislative session began with drama when House Democrats boycotted by refusing to show up for work. This caused delays and has resulted in a fast-paced beginning to this year's session.
The Beginning of the End (of Northstar Commuter Rail)
Speaking of the end, we are very excited to share that taxpayer waste on the boondoggle Northstar line will be ending soon!
For nearly two decades, Northstar Commuter Rail has drained millions of taxpayer dollars while failing to deliver less congestion or acceptable ridership levels. With ridership at rock bottom and costs continuing to mount, it’s time to pull the plug. That’s why I am leading the effort to officially end Northstar operations and stop wasting over $16 million every year on a failed transit experiment.
This week, my bill (HF269) to terminate Northstar Commuter Rail advanced through the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee and is now heading to the General Register for a full House vote.
Why This Matters:
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$320+ Million Spent, Still a Failure – Despite massive taxpayer subsidies, Northstar has never lived up to expectations.
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Ridership is Near Zero – From 767,000 riders in 2019 to just 275 daily riders in 2022, the service is unsustainable.
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$11 Million Lost Every Year – Money that could be invested in more effective and flexible transit solutions.
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Even MnDOT and the Met Council Know It’s Over – On the same day my bill advanced, MnDOT and the Met Council scrambled to announce their agreement with my bill and plans to transition from rail to bus service!
MnDOT & Met Council's Last-Minute Announcement Proves Our Point
As my bill moved forward, MnDOT and the Met Council rushed out a last-minute announcement about "exploring" a transition from Northstar rail to bus service. The reality is that these agencies are only acting now because they have no other choice. Northstar has been a financial disaster for years, yet the Met Council and MnDOT continued to defend it—until now, when it’s politically impossible to ignore its failure any longer.
For years, state officials refused to acknowledge Northstar’s declining ridership and unsustainable costs. Our bill, now supported by Met Council and MnDOT, is admitting what we have been saying all along: Northstar is a failed experiment, and taxpayers deserve better. That’s why my bill is necessary: it forces them to take action and ensures taxpayer dollars are no longer wasted on a system that simply does not work.
Media Coverage & More Information
This issue has generated significant media attention, and I appreciate the opportunity to highlight why Minnesotans deserve better than costly, inefficient projects like Northstar. Click below to read and watch recent coverage of my efforts:
I will continue pushing to eliminate wasteful spending, hold government accountable, and prioritize real solutions for Minnesota commuters. Thank you for your support as we work to end this costly mistake and move forward with better, more efficient transportation options.
Sincerely,
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