City of Ramsey needs help for new passenger rail station
by Don Heinzman -- The city of Ramsey needs congressional help to get $3.5 million in federal funds to help build a new passenger rail station for the Northstar Commuter Rail service, a necessary component of a 400-acre transit-oriented commercial development.
To finance the rail station, the city first applied unsuccessfully for $1.4 million in federal transit funds. Officials said the $1.4 million funding request was not in Sixth District Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann’s final list of appropriations.
They are soliciting her support for this latest request of $3.5 million they hope will be part of the next authorization bill.
“She was more than happy to listen to us, but our project didn’t make her list,” said City Administrator Kurt Ulrich.
Rachel Horn, Bachmann’s deputy press secretary, said Bachmann does not support any funding earmarks, but considers requests for federal funding and prioritizes them with one of the factors being the need for the project.
Horn could not say whether Bachmann supports funding for the rail project.
Michele Bachmann's history at the state legislature has been one of outspoken opposition to any rail projects.
Last week, the city went over the development and need for passenger rail with State Senator Tarryl Clark and Eighth District Congressman Jim Oberstar, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair. Clark is the DFL-endorsed candidate running against Bachmann.
The stop at Ramsey City Hall was part of a tour Clark and Oberstar took in Anoka County where they heard about transportation projects in Blaine and East Bethel.
Eighth District Congressman James Oberstar and Sixth District congressional candidate, Sen. Tarryl Clark, held briefings last week on Anoka County's transportation future. Former state transportation commissioner El Tinklenberg, Ramsey Mayor Bob Ramsey and Blaine Mayor Tom Ryan attended. (Photo submitted)
Clark said she supports the project and if elected would work with Congressman Oberstar to get the funds for Ramsey.
Clark said wherever she goes in the district, the big concern is about jobs, which would be created by the Ramsey rail station project..
Congresswoman Bachmann hasn’t done a single thing to create a job,” Clark said. “She’s voted against every measure at the federal level to bring about jobs.”
Instead, Clark said, she is focused on making headlines rather than bringing people together and doing something for her district.”
Oberstar, a Democrat, said, “People in the sixth district need an advocate, not an impediment to create jobs and build a strong economy.” The congressman was impressed with Ramsey’s commercial development and promised he’d be there to help get the funding.
He said that more people are using transit, citing that in a study 21 percent of people chose autos where 43 percent chose transit. “We are adding a million new transit riders daily,” he said.
Oberstar said over the next four years $450 billion has been approved for transportation funding and $50 billion for passenger rail.
This is quite good coverage for Tarryl Clark.
Hat Tip to Eric Zaetsch.
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