Further reading

Here are some documents and studies related to public transportation in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

Programs suggesting improvements:

Different travelers value their time differently. Here's one table from the 2009 Tri-State III rail study:

ModeValue of Time
($/hr)
  Air – Business75.50
  Air – Non-Business41.42
Average Air61.88
  Auto – Business40.42
  Auto – Non-Business  22.19
Average Auto26.34
Average Bus11.54
  Rail – Business42.62
  Rail – Non-Business20.70
Average Rail26.80
Rail costs:

Some costs of major projects (and a few not-so major ones) in Minnesota:
  • Sherburne County Generating Station Unit 3 (1983–1987): $1 billion
  • Hiawatha Line/Blue Line light-rail train, Minneapolis to Bloomington (12 mi, ?–2004): $715 million
  • Central Corridor/Green Line light-rail train, Minneapolis to St. Paul (9 or 10 mi, 2009–2014): $957 million
  • North-south runway at MSP airport: $624 million[ref]
  • St. Paul Union Depot refurbishment (2011–2012): $243 million[ref]
  • I-94 resurfacing between downtown Minneapolis & downtown St. Paul (2010–2011): over $26 million (just 2011)[ref]
  • MN-62 Crosstown/I-35W project (200?–2010): $288 million
  • Target Field (2007–2010): $450 million[ref] (including $392 million from 0.15% Hennepin County sales tax).
  • Elk Run interchange, diverging diamond along U.S. 52 at Pine Island (2011–2012): $34.3 million[ref]
  • U.S. 52 Lafayette Bridge, St. Paul: multiple values seen: $130.4 million, $164 million, $185 million.
  • Planned Interchange train station, Minneapolis (2012–2014): less than $70 million[ref]
  • Planned Stillwater Bridge, Stillwater, MN to Houlton, WI (0.5 mi, ...): $700 million ($691 million?)
  • Planned Northern Lights Express intercity train, Minneapolis to Duluth (155 mi, ...): $650 to $750 million
  • Planned Southwest Corridor light-rail train, Minneapolis to Eden Prairie (15 mi, ...): $1.25 billion
  • Planned Fargo-Moorhead area diversion of Red River (36 mi, 2013(?)–2021(?)): $1.78 billion
  • Planned I-35W/Lake Street interchange rebuild, including BRT station (2013?): $160 million[ref]

Cost estimation documents:

Yearly Mn/DOT road construction costs:
  • 2003: $600 million (plus carryover from 2002)[ref]
  • 2004: ?
  • 2005: $1.7 billion
  • 2006: $1.5 billion[ref]
  • 2007: $1.5 billion[ref]
  • 2008: ??? $441 million to $657 million[ref] Possibly $632 million[ref]
  • 2009: $1.4 billion[ref]
  • 2010: $1.3 billion
  • 2011: $900 million
  • 2012: $1.1 billion[ref]
  • 2013: $1.1 billion[ref]
  • 2014: $1.1 billion[ref]
  • 2018: $1.1 billion[ref]
Amtrak information:
Speed conversions:
SIImperialExample systems
350 km/h217 mphChina
325 km/h202 mph
300 km/h186 mphTGV and many others
250 km/h155 mphMany German ICE lines (some are faster)
220 km/h136 mphTGV/LGV junctions (between separate lines)
200 km/h124 mph
160 km/h99 mphTGV/LGV crossovers (parallel tracks on same line)
Meeting minutes:
Car stuff:
Census population and commuting data