Looking for Help?

Jan. 1, 2016--This site is great if you're looking for historical information on how Northstar Commuter Rail came to be. But, if you're looking for information on trains and buses, go to www.metrotransit.org. Northstar Link info is at www.CatchTheLink.com.

Northstar Link Commuter Bus to Serve All Vikings Home Games

Aug. 14, 2015. ST. CLOUD — Northstar Commuter Rail  and Northstar Link Commuter Bus will provide service for all Minnesota Vikings pre-season and regular season home games at TCF Bank Stadium.

To get to the game:

·         Catch the Northstar Link Bus from St. Cloud or Becker to the Northstar train in Big Lake.

·         Ride the train until the end of the line at Target Field Station, where you can make an easy – and FREE – transfer to a METRO Green Line train for service to TCF Bank Stadium.

·         Travel time from St. Cloud to TCF Bank Stadium is just over two hours. This includes time for fare purchase and transfers. Using public transportation will get you to the game in time for some pre-game activities.

For the return trip:

·         Ride a westbound METRO Green Line train to Target Field Station. Green line has frequent departures.

·         For Saturday 7 pm games, a northbound Northstar Rail train will depart Target Field Station 90 minutes after game ends. For Sunday noon games, a northbound train will depart Target Field Station at
4:55 pm.

·         The Northstar Link bus will meet the train in Big Lake and will serve all stops.

Separate fares are required for the Northstar Bus and the Northstar Train. The cost to ride Northstar Link between St. Cloud and Big Lake is $2. Between Becker and Big Lake is $1. Fares for Northstar train from Big Lake to Target Field station ranges between $5.25 on weekend and $6.00 for weekday. Roundtrip Family Passes are also available from Metro Transit for travel on Northstar train.

Information about Northstar Commuter Rail service for Vikings games: metrotransit.org/ride-northstar-to-vikings

Information about Northstar Link Commuter Bus service: CatchTheLink.com.

# # #

About the Northstar Link Commuter Bus

Northstar Link provides commuter bus service that meets trains at Northstar Big Lake Station seven days each week, except some holidays.  On Fridays, the bus offers a midday roundtrip between St. Cloud and downtown Minneapolis. Northstar Link is operated by Metro Bus with financial support from Northstar Corridor Development Authority, Sherburne and Stearns Counties. Learn more at CatchTheLink.com or call 877.LINK.010.

 

 

Free Rides June 14, 15 for Green Line LRT Opening Weekend

ST. CLOUD (June 6, 2014)– Ride for free June 14 and 15 on Northstar Link Commuter Bus, Northstar Commuter Rail and Metro Transit buses in the Twin Cities. The free rides are part of opening weekend celebrations for the METRO Green Line Light Rail Transit.

With the opening of the Green Line LRT, people can make connections from Target Field to the University of Minnesota, the State Capitol and downtown St. Paul.

There will be nearly 500 trains each day at Target Field Station, with Green, Blue and Northstar lines combined, plus almost 2,000 bus connections nearby.

As the regional system grows, that’s good news for commuters, according to Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier, chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority.

“It’s getting easier to use transit, which, for a commuter, means less stress and more money in your pocket,” Commissioner Lenzmeier said.

In addition to Northstar Link’s regular weekend schedule June 14, an extra southbound trip will operate from St. Cloud to meet the extra Northstar train in Big Lake for the METRO Green Line opening ceremonies. An extra northbound bus is scheduled for the return trip.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies are planned Saturday at the Union Depot and Target Field stations, with community celebrations at seven Green Line stations throughout the day.

The Green Line will not be operational prior to the Union Depot ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Details of activities at Target Field Station and the rest of the Green Line are available at metrotransit.org/GreenLine.

Information about Northstar Link Commuter Bus service is available at CatchTheLink.com.

About the Northstar Link Commuter Bus
Northstar Link provides commuter bus service that meets most trains at Northstar Big Lake Station seven days each week, except some holidays. On Fridays, the bus offers a midday roundtrip between St. Cloud and downtown Minneapolis. Northstar Link is operated by Metro Bus with financial support from Northstar Corridor Development Authority, Sherburne and Stearns Counties. Learn more at CatchTheLink.com or call 877.LINK.010. Learn about the Northstar Commuter Rail Line at metrotransit.org/northstar or call 612-373-3333.

More people enjoying cost-savings, stress-free commute by catching Northstar Link

ST. CLOUD (Jan. 31, 2014) — For the fourth consecutive year, people hopped on board the Northstar Link Commuter Bus in record numbers to travel the Highway 10 corridor between St. Cloud and Minneapolis. Link ridership grew 9.4 percent in 2013, with a total ridership of 55,213.

The Northstar Link Commuter Bus provides daily service to the Northstar Commuter Rail line’s Big Lake Station and serves most rail trips. Northstar trains primarily serve weekday commuters.

Northstar trains also serve some special events and all home Twins and Vikings games. Again in 2014, all Twins home games will have Northstar Link and train service.

The number of Northstar train commuters also grew in 2013. Ridership reached 787,239 in 2013, a 12 percent increase. Last year’s ridership was the highest in the line’s four-year history.

The top reasons people use Northstar Link are cost savings, stress-free travel and convenience, according to Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier, chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority. The authority is the group that oversees the Link.

“A majority of customers ride more than one day a week, too, which is helping slow the growth of congestion on highways 10 and 94,” Commissioner Lenzmeier said.

The Northstar Link is a multi-purpose mode of transportation, serving not just commuters but sports fans and students.

“It’s not uncommon to have Sunday evening buses full of students headed back to St. Cloud State University,” Commissioner Lenzmeier said.

Northstar Link provides one trip each week that is not tied to the train schedule. Northstar Link makes it possible to work a half day or make a short, leisurely trip on Fridays. The Fabulous Friday midday bus service starts in St. Cloud at 10:15 a.m. and ends in Minneapolis at 12:45 p.m., with stops in between at Becker and all Northstar train stations, except Fridley. The bus leaves downtown Minneapolis and heads north at 1 p.m., following the same route.

Information on schedules and fares, which range from $1.25 to $5.50 one way, can be found at www.CatchTheLink.com or by calling 877.LINK.010.

About the Northstar Corridor

The Northstar Commuter Rail Line operated by Metro Transit, provides service on the 40-mile segment of existing track along highways 10 and 47 from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis.

Northstar trains offer commuter service during morning and evening weekday rush hours, as well as regular weekend service and some special event service.

The Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) is a joint powers board of governmental entities representing counties, cities, townships and regional railroad authorities along the Northstar Corridor, which covers an 80-mile stretch from downtown Minneapolis to St. Cloud.

For more information about Northstar train service, go to www.metrotransit.org/northstar. For more information about the Northstar Link Commuter Bus, which is operated by St. Cloud Metro Bus, go to www.CatchTheLink.com, or call 877.LINK.010.

Sign Up for Occasional Updates

(Nov. 19, 2013) Did you get today's e-news from the Northstar Corridor Development Authority?

It has information on Northstar beginning its fifth year of operation, plus important service notifications. For example, because of construction, Northstar Line riders will be transported between Target Field and Fridley Stations by bus this Saturday and Sunday.

Want to get signed up? Go to our home page, look toward the bottom of the left-hand column and you'll find the sign up box. Plug in your email and you're on your way to getting coridor updates about a half dozen times per year.

Find a link to today's edition on our Facebook page.

More people commute by catching the Link, benefits include cost savings, stress-free ride

ST. CLOUD Oct.22, 2013 — People are hopping on board the Northstar Link Commuter Bus in record numbers to travel in the highway 10 corridor between St. Cloud and Minneapolis. Link ridership in September reached a new high, with more than 5,400 rides, an 18 percent increase over September 2012.

The Northstar Link Commuter Bus, which has stops between St. Cloud and Big Lake, coordinates with most Northstar Commuter Rail train arrivals and departures at the Big Lake Station seven days each week. The train schedule primarily serves commuters during rush hours, and offers limited weekend service plus some special events, including Twins baseball and Vikings football games.

The number of commuters on the train also is growing. September 2013 ridership was up about seven percent over September 2012.

The top three reasons people use Northstar Link are cost savings, stress-free travel, and convenience, according to Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier, chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority, which is the group that oversees the Link.

“I give some of the credit for the increased ridership to the efforts of the St. Cloud State Mass Communications students last year,” Commissioner Lenzmeier said. “As a class project, they helped build awareness on campus for the Link and train services. Now it’s common to have Sunday evening buses full of students headed back to SCSU.”

Commissioner Lenzmeier went on to say that the majority of riders use Link services more than one day a week, which he believes is helping to manage congestion on highways 10 and 94.

There is one weekday bus trip that isn’t tied to the train schedule. Northstar Link makes it possible to work a half day or make a short, leisurely trip on Fridays. The Fabulous Friday midday bus service starts in St. Cloud at 10:15 a.m. and ends in Minneapolis at 12:45 p.m., with stops in between at Becker and all Northstar train stations, except Fridley. The bus leaves downtown Minneapolis and heads north at 1 p.m. with stops at all Northstar stations, except Fridley.

Information on schedules and fares, which range from $1.25 to $5.50 one way, can be found at www.CatchTheLink.com or by calling 877.LINK.010.

Take Northstar to the State Fair, Great Deal on Weekends

ST. CLOUD Aug. 9, 2013 — Northstar Link and Metro Transit are teaming up to make getting to the Minnesota State Fair easy and affordable on weekends.
 
Travel from St. Cloud and Becker all the way to the gates of the State Fair on one pass!
Up to five people (two adults and three children age 6-17) can ride Northstar Link, Northstar Rail and the State Fair Express Bus (board at the Northstar station in Fridley) for only $20 roundtrip on State Fair weekends Aug. 24 and 25, and Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

Family Passes range in price from $20 down to $11, depending on your boarding station.

Purchase Family Passes in advance online at www.metrotransit.org/northstar-family-pass-state-fair. Print the Family Pass in order to present it to Link drivers and Metro Transit staff. (Be sure to retain the pass for the return trip). Buses leave Fridley Station roughly every half hour.
 
This “one fare to the fair” offer is valid only on weekends during the 2013 State Fair.
 
Customers are advised to plan ahead for the return trip from the fairgrounds by knowing schedules and trip times and returning to Fridley Station from the State Fair well in advance of scheduled train departures. Northstar trains are not able to wait for buses arriving from the State Fair.
 
During the week, riders may use Northstar Link and Northstar Rail to get to the State Fair Express Bus in Fridley. Regular fares apply. Complete schedule details are available at www.CatchTheLink.com for the bus and www.metrotransit.org/northstar for the train.

Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier, chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority, predicts the Family Pass and Fridley shuttle will be popular.

“The great Minnesota get-together should be fun, relaxing,” Lenzmeier said. “Transit can help take away the stress and expense of driving and parking.”

Northstar Link is providing some additional service on weekends for travel to the State Fair. Northstar trains will follow their regular schedule.

Northstar Corridor Market Analyses and Executive Summaries

Transit-Oriented Development in the Northstar Corridor

The Northstar Corridor Development Authority was the sub-recipient of a grant received by the Metropolitan Council’s Corridors of Opportunity program from HUD’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant to conduct a Transit-Oriented Development study of the Northstar Corridor in 2011. Additional funding was provided by Anoka County and Sherburne County.

This study resulted in the generation of market and economic viability analysis’ for each station city that provides an informed understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities each area has as well as providing a greater understanding of how their area fits within the Northstar Corridor.

The following videos are from a Northstar Market Analysis Meeting on June 6, 2013, that provided an overview of the process and results of the study and allowed each station city to briefly describe activities and plans for their area.

City-specific videos: Anoka, Big Lake, Coon Rapids, Elk River, Fridley, Ramsey.

You can get even more great information from the Corridors of Opportunity project, by the Metropolitan Council.

Market Analysis for Areas Along the Northstar Corridor

Download reports on the developent potential and financial viability of residential, retail, and office development near Northstar Stations, as well as recommendations on implementing those findings.

Anoka

Executive Summary (.pdf)

Market Analysis (.pdf)

Big Lake

Executive Summary (.pdf)

Market Analysis (.pdf)

Coon Rapids

Executive Summary (.pdf)

Market Analysis (.pdf)

Elk River

Executive Summary (.pdf)

Market Analysis (.pdf)

Fridley

Executive Summary (.pdf)

Market Analysis (.pdf)

Ramsey

Executive Summary (.pdf)

Market Analysis (.pdf)

Northstar Link, Northstar Commuter Rail to provide service for every Minnesota Twins home game

ST. CLOUD — Let Northstar Link and Northstar Commuter Rail take you out to the ball game.

Every Twins home game this season will have bus and rail service. Baseball fans will be able to take the Northstar Link bus from St. Cloud or Becker to Big Lake to connect with the Northstar train, which takes them directly to Target Field in Minneapolis. At the scheduled departure time, or 30 minutes after the last out for specially scheduled trains, fans will be able to board the train to Big Lake and easily transfer to the Northstar Link bus to finish the trip back to Becker or St. Cloud.

Separate tickets are needed to ride the Link and the train. Link rides cost $1.75 or less each way. Train fares vary by station. Before games, round-trip train tickets and Northstar Roundtrip Family Passes can be purchased online at www.metrotransit.org/Northstar. Just print your ticket and keep it with you.

“Taking the Link and train are part of the fun of going to a baseball game,” said Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier, chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority. “Online train tickets make it even easier to enjoy the stress-free ride.”

The Minnesota Twins Northstar Link service is called route 887T. The 887T schedule is available on Link buses and Northstar trains, online at www.CatchTheLink.com, or by calling 877.LINK.010.  For information on train schedules and fare options, go to www.metrotransit.org/twins.

About the Northstar Corridor

The Northstar Commuter Rail Line, operated by Metro Transit, provides service on the 40-mile segment of existing track along Highways 10 and 47 from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis.

Northstar trains offer commuter service during prime morning and evening week day rush hours, as well as regular weekend service and some special event service.

The Northstar Corridor Development Authority is a joint powers board of governmental entities representing counties, cities, townships and regional railroad authorities along the Northstar Corridor, which covers an 80-mile stretch from downtown Minneapolis to St. Cloud.

For more information about Northstar train service, go to www.metrotransit.org/northstar. For more information about the Northstar Link Commuter Bus, which is operated by St. Cloud Metro Bus, go to www.CatchTheLink.com, or call 877.LINK.010.

More people commute by catching the Link

Jan. 18, 2013 — People are hopping on board the Northstar Link Commuter Bus in record numbers to travel in the highway 10 corridor between St. Cloud and Minneapolis. Link ridership in 2012 grew 8.7 percent over 2011 for a total of 50,468 boardings. Since the service began in November 2009, the numbers of Link customers have grown every year.

The Northstar Link Commuter Bus meets most Northstar Commuter Rail trains in Big Lake, seven days each week. The train schedule primarily serves commuters during rush hours, plus special events like Twins baseball and Vikings football games.

The number of commuters on the train also is growing. Ridership among regular weekday commuters was up four percent in 2012. Slower traffic on weekends caused the total train boardings for the year to be down 0.45 percent to 700,276.

The top three reasons people use Northstar Link are cost savings, stress-free travel and convenience, according to Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier, chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority, which is the group that oversees the Link. “A majority of customers ride more than one day a week, too, which is helping slow the growth of congestion on highways 10 and 94,” Commissioner Lenzmeier said.

Commuters, Students, Sports Fans Share Ride

The Northstar Link is a multi-purpose mode of transportation.

Again in 2013, all Twins home games will have Northstar Link and train service.

“It’s not uncommon to have Sunday evening buses full of students headed back to SCSU,” Commissioner Lenzmeier said. “Just $1.75 buys a comfortable, safe ride to campus from Big Lake; $1.25 from Becker.”

There’s one trip each week that isn’t tied to the train schedule. Northstar Link makes it possible to work a half day or make a short, leisurely trip on Fridays. The Fabulous Friday midday bus service starts in St. Cloud at 10:15 a.m. and ends in Minneapolis at 12:45 p.m., with stops in between at Becker and all Northstar train stations, except Fridley. The bus leaves downtown Minneapolis and heads north at 1 p.m. with stops at any Northstar station by request, except Fridley.

Information on schedules and fares, which range from $1.25 to $5.50 one way, can be found at www.CatchTheLink.com or by calling 877.LINK.010.

About the Northstar Corridor

The Northstar Commuter Rail Line, operated by Metro Transit, provides service on the 40-mile segment of existing track along Highways 10 and 47 from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis.

Northstar trains offer commuter service during prime morning and evening week day rush hours, as well as regular weekend service and some special event service.

The Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) is a joint powers board of governmental entities representing counties, cities, townships and regional railroad authorities along the Northstar Corridor, which covers an 80-mile stretch from downtown Minneapolis to St. Cloud.

For more information about Northstar train service, go to www.metrotransit.org/northstar. For more information about the Northstar Link Commuter Bus, which is operated by St. Cloud Metro Bus, go to www.CatchTheLink.com, or call 877.LINK.010.

- 30 -