Rochester, MN-(Information from Press Release:) – Today, elected officials and business leaders from Olmsted County and the City of Rochester unveiled preliminary plans for an integrated Southern Rail Corridor south of the City of Rochester designed to serve the region’s freight rail needs and to create a viable option to accommodate future high-speed passenger rail service. The proposed corridor would first and foremost address freight rail needs, and is one of several corridor options for high-speed passenger service that will be studied in the coming years.
“The historic focus on rail service and investments at both federal and state levels provides a multi-generational opportunity to reshape our own rail future,” said Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede. “Now is the time to articulate a vision for future freight and passenger rail service that ensures safety in our region and enhances our ability to compete in a global market.”
The proposed alignment of the Southern Rail Corridor creates a rail strategy for the Rochester area, improving transportation safety and facilitating freight movements. In addition, it would significantly reduce the risk and consequences of a rail incident involving hazardous materials by re-routing freight operations away from downtown Rochester and the Mayo Clinic. The Southern Rail Corridor’s right-of-way should be considered one of numerous viable options to accommodate track for future high-speed passenger rail service, enhancing the region’s economy by connecting the City of Rochester and southern Minnesota to the Twin Cities, Duluth and Chicago via passenger rail.
“Members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation and Governor Tim Pawlenty understand what we have long known in Olmsted County – this effort will safeguard the state’s economic future by working to alleviate freight hazards and creating a viable option to accommodate high-speed passenger rail,” said Glenn Forbes, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester CEO. “We must identify a long-term solution that ensures the safety and security of Mayo Clinic’s patients, staff and visitors, and will allow for lasting investments that will benefit not only this region, but the entire State of Minnesota.”
The City of Rochester is the third largest city in Minnesota and employs nearly 110,000 workers (more than its entire population), reflecting its economic reach throughout southeast Minnesota. Mayo Clinic accounts for 38 percent of Olmsted County employment and 44 percent of the county’s labor income. Mayo Clinic’s investment in Rochester, when coupled with the biotechnology partnership with the University of Minnesota and the BioBusiness Center in downtown Rochester being developed by the Rochester Economic Development Authority, will position Rochester as one of the nation’s premier biotechnology, research and medical device centers. Rochester is clearly poised for significant economic growth.
“The Southern Rail Corridor represents a high-priority investment that is critical to the region’s long-term economic viability and the safety and security of Rochester and surrounding communities,” said John Wade, president, Rochester Chamber of Commerce. “A modern regional system of efficient and safe freight rail service is a vital component to ensuring continued economic growth throughout Southeastern Minnesota.”
The proposed rail alignment, a re-route of the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern (DM&E) rail line that bisects downtown Rochester, would run approximately 48 miles from Dover in Olmsted County to just West of Dodge Center. The Southern Rail Corridor is estimated to cost $325 million, which would provide for freight rail service and provides an option of an adequate right-of-way for future high-speed passenger service. Various government authorities, in conjunction with landowners, business leaders and local officials, will determine a final route. Officials from Rochester, Olmsted County and the Mayo Clinic are working with state and federal officials to securing financing for the proposal.
“We believe an objective data driven analysis by state, federal and local agencies will point to the need to include Rochester in plans for high-speed passenger rail in Minnesota,” Wade said. “We are very encouraged that Governor Tim Pawlenty recently directed the Minnesota Department of Transportation to study the viability of high-speed passenger service to Rochester as part of the development of the official State Rail Plan.”
Community leaders have already begun meeting with landowners and community members to introduce the potential alignment and discuss the proposal in greater detail. “We want this to be a very inclusive process, where landowners have a very direct say in helping determine the best route for the corridor,” said Ken Brown, Olmsted County Commissioner.
“This is a project that will affect us all; and to ensure all voices are heard, we are proposing the creation of a public advisory council to help address citizen concerns,” said Matt Flynn, Olmsted County Commissioner. “We will be seeking leaders from various interests such as landowners, farmers, agricultural groups and others to help guide this process.”
A rail infrastructure study conducted by Gannett Fleming Transit and Rail Systems, an international engineering firm specializing in rail infrastructure evaluation, site planning and design, indicated the corridor will improve the efficiency of agricultural commodity shipments through the region as the freight service will move on a safer and less populated route. Additionally, the study found that freight could travel more quickly on the new alignment Southern Rail Corridor than on the existing in-city route, even if the in-city route was substantially upgraded and street over-passes were built. The economic impact of agriculture and coal shipments were not included in the Gannett Fleming study, but can be assumed based on the speed of shipments and the availability of running more trains with greater capacity.
For more information on the Southern Rail Corridor proposal, visit www.southernrailcorridor.org.
Background
The Southern Rail Corridor proposal is a combined effort of Olmsted County, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Rochester and Mayo Clinic.
Rochester’s Economic Facts:
- Rochester employs nearly 110,000 workers (more than its entire population), reflecting its economic reach throughout southeast Minnesota.
- From 1998 to 2008, the Rochester area economy added jobs at twice the rate of both the state and nation.
- Mayo Clinic is the largest private employer in the state and the economic hub of Southern Minnesota.
- Mayo employs 37,000 people and adds more than $3 billion annually to the Minnesota economy, while providing $2.5 billion in wages. Mayo accounts for 38 percent of Olmsted County employment and 44 percent of the county’s labor income.
- Mayo Clinic welcomes more than 11,000 people every day, 6,213 patients are treated at Mayo Clinic facilities in Rochester + 4,970 visitors are present.
- Rochester hosts about 2.5 million visitors each year, and nearly half of them stay overnight in the city's 5,000 hotel rooms. Visitors spend an estimated $1.2 million each day in Rochester and every dollar spent circulates seven times before leaving the community.
