Northern Lights Express Gets Additional Money

DULUTH, Minn. — There is news that the Northern Lights Express passenger rail project between Duluth Superior and Minneapolis is getting federal funding for more planning.

The Northern Light Express route is one of 47 projects that will each receive up to $500,000. The Minnesota DOT will use the money to update the work it completed in 2017.

The money is part of the 80% of federal funding needed for the billion-dollar project. The Minnesota Legislature has approved $195 million to pay for the state’s 20% share of the total cost.

The next step in the process is getting federal funds, and Northern Lights Express is in a unique position among the 47 projects named today.

Ken Buehler, Joint Powers Alliance for the NLX Project, said,” That bill has 16 Billion dollars in it set aside for pair cities just like Duluth Superior and Minneapolis. 47 of those paired cities were just approved under this corridor identification program of which Northern Lights Express was one and by the way only one of those 47 projects only one if shovel-ready and only one has 100% of the state and federal match in their back pocket. You talk about a great day this is it.

The announcement of further funding is expected to take place shortly after the first of the year.