The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) today released a report on the existing Northstar Commuter Rail line, which runs 40 miles from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis. It also provides an “analysis and evaluation of options for development of transit and rail service improvements in the corridor between the Minnesota Cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Coon Rapids, St. Cloud and Moorhead, and Fargo, North Dakota.”

The report reveals a significant decline in Northstar ridership since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2017, the commuter rail service recorded approximately 790,000 rides in its first year, but by 2020, ridership had dropped to around 150,000. By 2024, this number had fallen even further to fewer than 100,000 riders.

“It is absurd that our state continues to pour billions of taxpayer dollars into commuter rail services,” Senator Andrew Mathews (R-Princeton) said. “The latest report on the Northstar Line highlights why this system is failing. In 2023, ticket revenue covered fewer than 3% of its operating costs, and ridership remains dismally low. As a result, Minnesotans were forced to absorb over $11 million in costs for a service that most do not even use. With our state facing a projected $5.1 billion deficit by 2029, we must prioritize cutting wasteful spending. The Northstar Line is a prime example of this, and it is time for the program to end.” 

The report also highlights infrastructure cost projections for a potential full rail line extension to Fargo, which could reach nearly $3 billion. In contrast, expanding bus service along the same route would cost less than $200 million. Additionally, the report estimates that subsidizing rail tickets could cost as much as $187 million per year, compared to $72 million for bus service.

To view the full report, visit http://www.dot.state.mn.us/govrel/reports.html.