Red Rock Corridor
Encyclopedia
The Red Rock Corridor is a proposed commuter rail service that will go from downtown Minneapolis
through neighboring Saint Paul
and then southeast along the Mississippi River
to Hastings
, Minnesota
, with a possible later extension to Red Wing
. The Minnesota Department of Transportation named the Red Rock Corridor among the first tier of the most feasible commuter rail lines in the Twin Cities region. In the time before commuter trains begin operating, planners are looking into using express bus
es and park-and-ride lots to funnel commuters; these lots could have platforms added and become train stations.
In planning since 1998, the line is projected to begin operating between Minneapolis and Hastings by 2018.
After about four years of dormancy, the project appears to have been restarted in late 2009. The project website, which had only received minimal changes since 2006, was completely redone by early 2010. In addition to the Target Field station in Minneapolis and the Union Depot
in Saint Paul, the locations of three more stations have been finalized:
A series of public meetings have been planned for 2010, and many of the station plans should be in final stages by summer 2011. The Saint Paul Union Depot is being remodeled and is expected to reopen to train traffic in 2012. Amtrak
will close their Midway station
and move the Empire Builder
to the Union Depot. The Target Field station opened in November 2009 with the start of the Northstar Line.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
through neighboring Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
and then southeast along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
to Hastings
Hastings, Minnesota
Hastings is a city in Dakota counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, near the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The population was 22,172 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dakota County. The bulk of Hastings is in Dakota County; only a small part of the city extends...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, with a possible later extension to Red Wing
Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing is a city in Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mississippi River. The population was 16,459 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Goodhue County....
. The Minnesota Department of Transportation named the Red Rock Corridor among the first tier of the most feasible commuter rail lines in the Twin Cities region. In the time before commuter trains begin operating, planners are looking into using express bus
Express bus
An express bus service is a bus service that is intended to run faster than normal bus services between the same two commuter points....
es and park-and-ride lots to funnel commuters; these lots could have platforms added and become train stations.
In planning since 1998, the line is projected to begin operating between Minneapolis and Hastings by 2018.
After about four years of dormancy, the project appears to have been restarted in late 2009. The project website, which had only received minimal changes since 2006, was completely redone by early 2010. In addition to the Target Field station in Minneapolis and the Union Depot
Saint Paul Union Depot
The Saint Paul Union Depot was the main train station in the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Saint Paul Union Depot Company controlled of St. Paul trackage and terminal facilities, including the depot building...
in Saint Paul, the locations of three more stations have been finalized:
- Lower Afton in Saint Paul
- Former Knox Lumber location in NewportNewport, MinnesotaNewport is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,435 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
, near the interchange for U.S. Highway 61 and Interstate 494Interstate 494Interstate 494 is a loop route making up part of a beltway of Interstate 94, circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota...
. - The former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific RailroadChicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific RailroadThe Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
(Milwaukee Road) depot in HastingsHastings, MinnesotaHastings is a city in Dakota counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, near the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The population was 22,172 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dakota County. The bulk of Hastings is in Dakota County; only a small part of the city extends...
. The Milwaukee Road merged with Canadian PacificCanadian Pacific RailwayThe Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
's Soo LineSoo Line RailroadThe Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste...
subsidiary in 1986, and CP still owns the tracks at the location today. - Additionally, the Cottage Grove station location has been narrowed to two options.
A series of public meetings have been planned for 2010, and many of the station plans should be in final stages by summer 2011. The Saint Paul Union Depot is being remodeled and is expected to reopen to train traffic in 2012. Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
will close their Midway station
Midway (Amtrak station)
Midway Station is the Amtrak train station in Saint Paul, Minnesota, so named after the Midway area which is roughly halfway between the downtowns of St. Paul and neighboring Minneapolis. Its Amtrak station code is MSP and serves as the only intercity train station for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul...
and move the Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
to the Union Depot. The Target Field station opened in November 2009 with the start of the Northstar Line.