Document vV7qyqMJ8v73z87DKq2j9xE98

Jon Koznick State Representative District 58A Lakeville, Dakota County Minnesota House of Representatives March 4, 2025 COMMITTEES: HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE & POLICY STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE & ELECTIONS TRANSPORTATION FINANCE & POLICY The Honorable Sean Duffy, Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington D.C. 20590 Dear Secretary Duffy, I am writing to inform you that the Metropolitan Council and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) have recently expressed their plan to formally notify the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of their intention to terminate operations of the Northstar Commuter Rail Line. This aligns with legislative efforts in Minnesota House of Representatives to discontinue the service due to low ridership and high operating costs. Since its inception, Northstar has failed to meet ridership projections and has become a significant financial burden on taxpayers. Despite an initial $347million investment from federal and state funds nearly 20 years ago, Northstar has failed to meet its original ridership estimates and then cratered during the pandemic. Unlike other transit services in Minnesota, the Northstar service has never rebounded and is only at 16% of already struggling with pre-pandemic service levels. The line currently operates on an $16 million operating budget with a ridership subsidy of roughly $116 per ride or $232 round trip. Given these realities, it is evident that Northstar is no longer viable transportation solution for our region. In fact, I and others have been advocating to terminate this service for many, many years. The Metropolitan Council and MnDOT will need to work with your office and the FTA to discuss winding down this service. I appreciate your attention and greatly appreciate the federal government's assistance in absolving and resolving any financial obligations quickly and reasonably to not further the financial burden on Minnesota taxpayers. My office and colleagues remain available to assist you. ( Representative Jon Koznic , Chair House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee Minnesota House of Representatives 4/6 State Office Building, 100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 V.) Email: rep.jon.koznick@house.mn Sierra Club v. Dept. of Transp. - 3:25-cv-06221 (651) 296-6926 SC_EVERSPLIT0019211 Jon Koznick State Representative District 58A Lakeville, Dakota County Minnesota House of Representatives COMMITTEES: HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE & POLICY STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE & ELECTIONS TRANSPORTATION FINANCE & POLICY cc: Congressman Tom Emmer, House Majority Whip Kelley Brookins, Region Five FTA Administrator Matt Welbes, FTA Executive Director Charlie Zelle, Metropolitan Council Chair Nancy Daubenburger, MnDOT Commissioner Congressman Tom Emmer, House Majority Whip 326 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Kelley Brookins Region Five FTA Administrator Region 5 Office, Federal Transit Administration 200 West Adams Street, Suite 320 Chicago, IL 60606 Matt Welbes, Executive Director Office of the Administration Federal Transit Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington DC 20590 Charlie Zelle, Chair Metropolitan Council 390 North Robert Street St. Paul 55101 Nancy Daubenberger, Commissioner 2025 Minnesota Department of Transportation 395 John Ireland Blvd St. Paul, MN 55155 IFIlk State Office Building, 100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 V', Email: rep.jon.koznick@house.mn Sierra Club v. Dept. of Transp. - 3:25-cv-06221 (651) 296-6926 SC_EVERSPLIT0019212