Lieutenant Governor Talks Transportation in St. Cloud

ST. CLOUD -- Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith told a crowd of St. Cloud area business leaders about Governor Mark Dayton's ideas for expanding I-94, studying the economic viability of the St. Cloud Airport and extending the Northstar Commuter Rail to St. Cloud.

Smith spoke at the Greater St. Cloud Transportation Summit at the River's Edge Convention Center Tuesday. She says they are proposing a $3,000,000 pilot project to use Amtrak trains and run a daily round trip from St. Cloud to Target Field over the next six months.

The governor's proposal would also pay for a study on what it would cost to extend Northstar permanently.  While other research has been done on Northstar, the Dayton Administration wants to see what it would cost in today's economy.

Republican lawmakers Jeff Howe and Jim Knoblach also spoke at the summit. While both indicate they support extending Northstar, they have other ideas on how to go about it.

Governor Dayton is also proposing $250,000 for a St. Cloud Airport study and a transportation bill adding lanes to Interstate 94.