Construction will start on Ramsey Northstar Station with a ceremonial groundbreaking event Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 3 to 4 p.m., at the site near Ramsey City Hall, 7550 Sunwood Dr., NW, Ramsey. Anoka County Regional Rail Authority Chair Matt Look and City of Ramsey Mayor Bob Ramsey will be joined by other local public officials and business people to throw the first shovels of dirt. The PACT Charter High School Choir will sing the national anthem and an African song, Mohlang, about a traveling train. A small reception will be held inside city hall.
The construction schedule calls for completion and service startup around Nov. 16, 2012, the third anniversary of opening day for Minnesota’s first commuter rail line.
Timing on construction is creating significant cost savings, according to Anoka County Commissioner Matt Look, chair of the Anoka County Regional Rail Authority.
“Taxpayers are realizing significant savings because we’re able to move ahead in the current marketplace,” Commissioner Look said. “The winning construction bid came in nearly $600,000 under the estimated price.”
Sheehy Construction provided the most competitive offer out of eight companies. They submitted a bid of $6,583,300 to construct the station platform, the pedestrian bridge over the BNSF Railway tracks and the skyway connection to the municipal parking ramp.
Construction is being paid for with a combination of funds from the City of Ramsey, Anoka County, the Counties Transit Improvement Board, and the State of Minnesota through the Met Council.
Full Speed Ahead in The COR
The construction of the Ramsey Station brings new development opportunities to the City of Ramsey, according to Mayor Bob Ramsey. For example, the Residence at the COR, a 230 unit market rate apartment project, is getting under construction in April.
“The Residence at the COR will provide new housing opportunities in the city and build ridership for Northstar,” Mayor Ramsey said. “We are optimistic about the impact the Ramsey Station will have on our community by providing new transit services to our residents and opening the door for additional development.”
Until the train stops in Ramsey, bus service is available at the station during rush hours and midday on Fridays. Information on buses, and Northstar Ramsey Station fares and schedules when available, can be found on Facebook/Northstar Corridor, and on the city Web site, www.ci.ramsey.mn.us.
