An increasing trend I’ve observed is the inappropriate grouping of passenger rail with transit. For example, CTIB may be supporting passenger rail projects like Northern Light Express, which have nothing to do with urban transportation systems. Similarly, investments in the Union Depot or a Hennepin County Rail hub could be branded as “transit projects” by both sponsors and opponents. In turn, actual transit projects may see reduced appropriations or decreased prioritization as a passenger rail agenda is advanced.

This doesn’t mean I’m against passenger rail. It just needs to be evaluated against comparable, competing modes, namely rural interstate highways and airports, and funded accordingly. I fear that transit sources of funding -at all levels- will begin to siphon scarce transit dollars towards intercity rail projects.