The state Department of Transportation will host four public meetings around the state in December to receive feedback for its updated Minnesota State Rail Plan. The rail plan “builds on the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan and provides direction for the role Minnesota’s freight and passenger railroads will play in achieving the overall vision,” according to the MnDOT website. The Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan is a 20-year policy plan for transportation. The state rail plan addresses economic development, safety improvements and future rail system development and investment, according to the release. It is part of MnDOT’s Family of Plans, supporting Minnesota GO, a 50-year plan for the state’s transportation systems. Meetings Meeting dates and locations include: • From 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, 506 W Michigan St., Duluth. • From 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Rochester Public Library at 101 Second St. S.E., Rochester. • From 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Moorhead Public Library at 118 Fifth St. S., Moorhead. • From 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Union Depot at 214 Fourth St. E., St. Paul. Meetings are informal and attendees can arrive at any time. Informational displays and handouts will be available, as well as MnDOT and State Rail Plan representatives to answer questions. Community members can also submit questions and comments online, as well as learn more about the project and sign up for email updates, at talk.dot.state.mn.us/state-rail-plan. Input will help guide the vision and action plan. Railroad data Based on data from 2021 to 2022, Minnesota has 4,278 route miles of railroads serviced by 21 railroad companies, according to MnDOT. A 2016 study, sponsored in part by the Minnesota Regional Railroads Association and Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, showed that freight rail provided at least 7% of employment in the state, or a quarter of a million jobs, and $40 billion of state GDP. MnDOT coordinates rail crossing safety and rail regulatory activities for more than 4,500 public highway-rail grade crossings in Minnesota. Existing passenger rail service includes the Borealis, Empire Builder and the Northstar Commuter Rail. A final state rail plan is expected to be developed in January and adopted in the spring. Interpreter or reasonable accommodation requests should be made at least one week in advance of an event and can be done by contacting Janet Miller at 651-366-4720 or [email protected] or by calling 1-800-657-3774 for Greater Minnesota or 711 or 1-800-627-3529 for Minnesota Relay. Related Articles News | Thanksgiving travel is cranking up across the country. Will the weather cooperate? News | Twin Cities: Thanksgiving weather forecast calls for cold, but no snow News | New $40M bridge planned over St. Croix River at Osceola News | Overturned fuel truck, cleanup shuts down I-35W North in Lino Lakes early Friday News | As ridership changes, Metro Transit to simplify, lower fares in 2025