Republicans tried to stop the Blue Line light rail extension into Minneapolis’s northwest suburbs, and cancel the planned Northern Lights Express passenger train between Duluth and Saint Paul — but Democrats said “no” as the Minnesota House passed a bill to use part of the state’s budget surplus for transportation projects. Anoka Republican John Heinrich urged colleagues,”Instead of a wasteful train to Duluth, we should be funding our State Patrol.”
But Minneapolis Democrat Frank Hornstein (HORN-steen) says about the Northern Lights Express: “There is a lot of support all along this line, particularly in the Duluth area. This is going to be a boost for the economy and for tourism.” But some lawmakers say smaller communities along the line are worried about hazards from passenger trains going through at high speeds.