In July of 2004, the Alternatives Analysis-Scoping Study was begun for the Red Rock Corridor.  This study will evaluate all the travel modes in the Corridor.   The Alternatives Analysis process is described below:

• Analyzes the benefits, costs, and impacts of various transit alternatives with the potential to meet the transportation needs of the Corridor's residents and businesses.
• Analysis covers various transit modes and alternative routes to identify those that work in a corridor
• An AA is a required process if federal funds will be used to help with construction of the selected transit alternative.
• Multiple opportunities for public input

The Alternatives Analysis-Scoping Study does not focus solely on commuter rail.  It will not result in the selection of a single transportation alternative or specific station locations for the corridor.

Commuter Rail Feasibility Study 

The impetus for this study was State Legislative action. At the request of the State legislature, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) initiated the Twin Cities Metropolitan Commuter Rail Study in September 1997. The Mn/DOT study evaluated 19 commuter rail corridors from transportation hubs emanating from Minneapolis and St. Paul. In January 1999, Mn/DOT presented results of the Phase II Twin Cities Metropolitan Commuter Rail Feasibility Study to the State legislature. The legislature then passed M.S. 174.80 to 174.90 that gave the Mn/DOT Commissioner the authority to plan, design, construct, and operate commuter rail in the State of Minnesota. The Commissioner was also charged with the responsibility of developing a commuter rail system plan that would ensure that commuter rail would be part of an integrated transportation system that would interface safely and efficiently with all other forms of transportation and facilities including Light Rail Transit (LRT), buses, park and ride, bicycles, and pedestrians. The Mn/DOT Commuter Rail System Plan published in February 2000 establishes a framework for the Red Rock Corridor Commuter Rail Feasibility study. The System Plan identifies the Red Rock Corridor as a high commuter rail priority. It is proposed to be the second corridor implemented (Hastings to downtown Minneapolis), that would connect with the Northstar Corridor (the first commuter rail corridor planned to be implemented).

As stated earlier, the Red Rock Corridor Commuter Rail Feasibility Study (Phase One) started in January of 2000. It was designed to evaluate the constraints and opportunities of operating commuter rail transportation service in the Red Rock Corridor on shared right-of-way of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) transcontinental railroad mainlines between the City of Hastings and downtown St. Paul to downtown Minneapolis via BNSF Southern right-of-way alignment. The RRCC directed ten Technical Studies that assess the overall viability and feasibility of commuter rail service. The Phase One work plan also provided an understanding of the viability of transit technology alternatives that could be considered within the southeast TH 61 corridor to Hastings.

Executive Summary ( 1834 KB)

Final Report (Large File - 3554 KB)

Mn/DOT Commuter Rail System Plan 

The impetus for this study was State Legislative action. At the request of the State legislature, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) initiated the Twin Cities Metropolitan Commuter Rail Study in September 1997. The Mn/DOT study evaluated 19 commuter rail corridors from transportation hubs emanating from Minneapolis and St. Paul. In January 1999, Mn/DOT presented results of the Phase II Twin Cities Metropolitan Commuter Rail Feasibility Study to the State legislature. The legislature then passed M.S. 174.80 to 174.90 that gave the Mn/DOT Commissioner the authority to plan, design, construct, and operate commuter rail in the State of Minnesota. 

The Commissioner was also charged with the responsibility of developing a commuter rail system plan that would ensure that commuter rail would be part of an integrated transportation system that would interface safely and efficiently with all other forms of transportation and facilities including Light Rail Transit, buses, park and ride, bicycles, and pedestrians. The Mn/DOT Commuter Rail System Plan published in February 2000 identified the Red Rock Corridor as a high commuter rail priority. This lead to the undertaking of the Red Rock Corridor Commuter Rail Feasibility Study (Feasibility Study).

The Feasibility Study started in January of 2000 and evaluated the constraints and opportunities of operating commuter rail transportation service in the Red Rock Corridor on shared right-of-way of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) freight tracks between the  Hastings, downtown St. Paul and on to downtown Minneapolis. The RRCC directed ten Technical Studies that assess the overall viability and feasibility of commuter rail service.