City Council Meeting Date: October 21, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Resolution of Support for Passenger Rail Service Between the Twin Cities and Kansas City.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves resolution supporting passenger rail service between the Twin Cities and Kansas City through Northfield.
Summary Report:
The Northfield City Council is being asked to support a resolution supporting passenger rail between the Twin Cities and Kansas City through Northfield.
The proposed City Council Resolution supporting the development of new passenger rail service between the Twin Cities and Kansas City represents an important opportunity for Northfield to advance its goals of equity, sustainability, and economic vitality. By adopting this resolution, Northfield signals to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, and regional partners that the community is ready to play a proactive role in shaping and benefiting from the corridor's development. Local support is essential in federal and state funding applications, including MnDOT's anticipated Corridor Identification Grant submission, as such resolutions demonstrate strong municipal alignment and commitment to intercity rail infrastructure. In a multi-jurisdictional project of this scale, early and visible support from key communities like Northfield helps strengthen the overall proposal and ensures that smaller cities are not overlooked in favor of larger metropolitan areas when future station locations and capital investments are determined.
The establishment of a passenger rail connection along the Twin Cities-Kansas City corridor would yield multiple benefits that align closely with Northfield's comprehensive planning and sustainability goals. Passenger rail offers a more equitable and sustainable form of regional transportation by expanding mobility for residents who do not own vehicles,...
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