There has been a significant amount of chatter from the St. Cloud area regarding extending the NorthStar Commuter Rail Line from Big Lake to their community.

 

Expenses, while bantered about in various meetings, have not been determined.

 

One thing is sure. Some of our neighbors to the northwest are clammoring for the service, but once they get the tab for providing them that service, perhaps they will think twice about it.

 

Their issue is to provide fast-link rail service from St. Cloud to the Twin Cities.

 

But from what I’ve seen with rather dismal ridership reports on their current “link,” the bus service, the rail service might not fare any better in ridership.

 

Who pays for all this?

 

This week, Hennepin and Anoka counties, NorthStar members, said they wouldn’t pay any more for bus link services, leaving the bill to Sherburne and Stearns county property tax payers.

 

I can understand part of their reasoning. A pertinent question to them, however, would be: If St. Cloud and northern Sherburne County residents are getting on the bus or rail to spend money in your towns, wouldn’t you be less averse to your share of financing?

 

This issue might well be moot, for a major reason. Burlington-Northern-Sante Fe Railroad bent over backwards and agreed to a lower tracks rental for the original 43 miles of NorthStar rail line usage.

 

If they can make more money transporting product - rather than people - might they be in a good position to just say “no?”

 

Sherburne County has for the duration of NorthStar paid out over a million bucks a year for the service to Big Lake. Shoud I be asked to help pay more for a rail line that provides minimal service to the community and generates only 17 cents in fares for every dollar we spend?

 

No  person would agree to such adverse financial consequences if it were his own money.

 

Why should our politicians agree to any more plundering of the public pot?