Sponsor: Public Works
Title
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2026 Funding Commitment to the Great River Rail Commission
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Recommendation
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1. Accept the Great River Rail Commission’s 2026 Work Plan and Budget.
2. Approve the payment of $16,400 to the Great River Rail Commission as the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority funding commitment to the Great River Rail Commission 2026 Work Plan and Budget.
3. Authorize the County Manager to establish a project budget for the Great River Rail Commission in the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority budget.
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Background and Rationale
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The Great River Rail Commission (Commission) is a joint powers board established under Minnesota Statutes, Section 471.59. Member parties on the Commission include the regional railroad authorities from Ramsey County, Goodhue County, Wabasha County, Washington County and Winona County, the La Crosse Area Planning Committee, the cities of Cottage Grove, Goodview, Hastings, Lake City, Newport, Red Wing, Saint Charles, Saint Paul, Saint Paul Park, Utica, Wabasha and Winona, and Wacouta Township.
The Borealis is a daily round-trip passenger train that serves 13 cities between Union Depot in Saint Paul and Chicago Union Station. The Borealis is state-supported service meaning operations financially supported by Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois and through ticket sales, but the train is operated by Amtrak. The Borealis began service on May 21, 2024, and surpassed 250,000 riders in July 2025, far exceeding annual forecasts of 150,000. The Borealis overnights at Union Depot where it receives light maintenance, cleaning and restocking of the café by an Amtrak contractor before its eastbound daily trip.
The Commission actively supported the development of the Borealis by using its communication resources to inform the public of the benefits of increased passenger rail service and activating their support. The Commission successfully lobbied state legislators to provide $10 million as Minnesota’s share to match a federal grant for track and signal improvements. The Commission also provided an opportunity for public engagement at their regular meetings during the development of the Borealis service.
Pursuant to the members’ Joint Powers Agreement (JPA), the five regional railroad authorities and the La Crosse Area Planning Committee are financial parties, responsible for payment of annual dues that fund the Commission’s annual work plan. The dues are based on a formula established in the JPA that includes population, existing passenger rail route mileage, and station stops within the jurisdiction of each financial party and a base amount shared equally among all financial parties.
The Commission considered several revenue options and adopted a 2026 Work Plan and Budget of $50,000 on November 6, 2025. The budget will be supplemented with $10,000 from its funding reserves. Within the Commission’s final adopted budget, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority’s 2026 funding commitment was identified as $16,400.
More information about the Great River Rail Commission can be found at:
<https://www.greatriverrail.org/>
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The Commission advocates for the implementation of faster and more frequent passenger train service in the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern route along the Mississippi River between Saint Paul, Minnesota and Chicago, Illinois. The Borealis added another affordable and accessible travel option that is well connected to urban centers and other destinations. Demographic data for the entire service area is undetermined; however, Union Depot is the only passenger train station in the Twin Cities, serving all of Ramsey County and the entire metro area population. Contracts for construction of track and signal improvements will comply with federal rules for hiring of disadvantaged and minority-owned businesses.
Community Participation Level and Impact
The Commission discussed the draft 2026 Work Plan and Budget at their meetings on July 10 and September 4, 2025, and adopted the final version at its meeting on November 6, 2025. Commission meetings are held in a hybrid format and are open to the public. Commission meetings are advertised on its website and meeting packets are distributed upon request. This board action serves to inform the public of the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority’s funding commitment to the Commission.
In 2025, the Commission promoted the Borealis through its social media channels, at in-person events and through distribution of printed material in partnership with business roundtable groups in Red Wing, Winona, and La Crosse. The Commission provides an opportunity for public feedback on the Borealis operations at their regular meetings. The Commission also monitors progress on other passenger rail studies so it can provide an opportunity for public engagement about those studies that could add faster and more frequent passenger train service along the Mississippi River route. The Commission has a contract with a state lobbyist should the need arise to engage legislators to advocate for passenger rail projects, studies, policy changes, or funding needs.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Funding in the amount of $16,400 for Ramsey County’s funding commitment to the Commission is available in the 2026 Public Works Multimodal Planning operating budget.
Last Previous Action
On March 18, 2025, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority approved a payment of $16,400 to the Great River Rail Commission for its financial commitment to the 2025 Commission budget (Resolution R2025-009).
Attachments
1. Great River Rail Commission Adopted 2026 Work Plan and Budget