1. 2010 Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan AASHTO Standing Committee on Rail 2010 Washington Meeting Freight in State Rail Plans—Best Practices

2. Project Phases

3. 4 Class I Railroads 16 Short Line Railroads 4500 Route Miles Most (but not all) private companies & infrastructure 4,500 Public Grade Crossings 8 th Highest Rail Miles in Nation Current Rail System

4. 4 Key Minnesota Industries Long-term trends IndustryOutlookExplanation Distribution, Warehousing, Retail State remains excellent location for North- Central logistics; Retail to recover with economy Manufacturing Output steady as jobs decline; technically- advanced players will compete successfully Construction Industry will recover with economy, but not to 2004-2006 levels Agriculture and Food E15 decisions to affect corn production; soybeans stable; uncertainties for dairy Paper and Wood Expansions at existing paper facilities; Exports balancing low domestic demand Life Sciences Recognized world leader in medical equipment and advanced healthcare Energy Population and jobs to increase energy demand; fuel types and origins may change Mining Growing interest in Iron Range; expanding to steel; new markets for taconite tailings

5. 5 Freight Vision Rail is a critical part of the state’s multimodal freight system, and provides connections to key markets beyond the state Many of the state’s major industries rely on freight rail A strong rail system supports – Economic development – Environmental sustainability – Preservation of the publicly owned roadway infrastructure – Business marketability of the State Therefore, Minnesota should strive to develop a balanced multimodal freight system which can respond to increased regional and international economic competition, constrained highway capacity, environmental challenges, a diverse customer base and rising energy costs

6. 6 6 Passenger/Freight Integration Current Track Capacity

7. 2030 Freight and Passenger LOS With Improvements 2030 Freight and Passenger LOS Without Improvements

8. Stakeholders Outreach Minnesota HSR Commission Joint Environmental Panel United Transportation Union Minnesota Regional Railroad Association TC&W Railroad West Central Rail Shippers Minnesota Farm Bureau Minnesota Grain & Feed Assoc. Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Transportation Alliance Metropolitan Council Counties Transit Improvement Board Northern Lights Express Northstar Corridor Development Auth. Rural Counties Association Rochester/SEMRA Wisconsin DOT Mn. Freight Advisory Committee Individual Stakeholders Total of 80 organizations & numerous individual discussions

9. Effective Railroad Engagement Develop coordinated communications plan (who/what/when) Railroads—technical and gov. affairs, nat’l & local Include agency staff in communications Be persistent (like Dorothy) Use multiple communication methods Don’t expect consensus

10. 2010 Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/resources.html