Coon Rapids–Foley Boulevard station

Coon Rapids–Foley Boulevard is a planned infill station on the Northstar commuter rail line in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, United States, at the site of a current Metro Transit park and ride facility. The station was originally included in Northstar plans, but it was cut in order to meet the Federal Transit Administration's cost-effectiveness index (CEI).[3][4]

This article is about a planned station. For the current station, see Coon Rapids–Riverdale station.
Coon Rapids–Foley Boulevard
General information
Location9425 Foley Boulevard, Coon Rapids, MN 55433[1]
Coordinates45°8′29″N 93°17′10″W
Owned byMetro Transit
Line(s)
  Northstar Line 888, proposed
ConnectionsBus routes 850, 852[1]
Construction
Parking3,200 spaces[2]
Services
Preceding station Metro Transit Following station
Proposed
Coon Rapids–Riverdale
towards Big Lake
 Northstar Line
Route 888
 Fridley
towards Target Field
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Cambridge
toward Duluth
 Northern Lights Express Minneapolis Target Field
Terminus

The current park-and-ride facility is located on a sliver of land in between Minnesota State Highway 610 and Foley Boulevard. It has 3,200 parking spaces with a surface lot and a two-story parking ramp, giving it more than four times the capacity of the largest existing Northstar station, Elk River (754 spaces).[2][5] Despite the fact that it already existed and would be a significant source of riders, calculation of the cost-effectiveness index was biased toward saving time of commuters. Riders would not save enough time by changing from the existing bus service to rail, so the station was dropped.[4]

Anoka County and the city of Coon Rapids have been acquiring land and making arrangements for matching funds for the station. It is expected to cost approximately $15 million to build the station. Construction will likely occur along with a related project to add a third set of rails along this stretch of track, which is the busiest in Minnesota. The third main line will allow additional passenger rail traffic, including the proposed Northern Lights Express project to connect to Duluth. The station will serve both lines, since it is nicely located just south of Coon Creek Junction where the BNSF Hinckley Subdivision branches off of the Staples Subdivision main line.[3][6]

References
  1. "Park & Ride". Metro Transit. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  2. Minneapolis-Duluth/Superior: Restoration of Intercity Passenger Rail Service Comprehensive Feasibility Study and Business Plan (ch. 1–2, ch 3, ch 4–10, appendices). Transportation Economics & Management Systems, Inc., December 2007. Accessed December 18, 2009.
  3. Peter Bodley (December 30, 2009). "State funds sought for Foley Station". Coon Rapids Herald. ABC Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  4. Peter Bodley (December 24, 2003). "Scaled-back Northstar is likely". Coon Rapids Herald. ABC Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  5. "Elk River Station". Northstar Line. Metro Transit. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  6. BNSF Easement Rights and Passenger Rail Capacity Improvements Archived 2012-09-02 at the Wayback Machine. Minnesota Department of Transportation, September 15, 2009
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