Cravaack Opposes Mpls-To-Duluth High-Speed Rail
DULUTH, Minn. (AP) -- U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack says he opposes funding for the proposed Northern Lights Express high-speed rail line between Duluth and the Twin Cities.
Minnesota Public Radio News reports that Cravaack says he doesn't support spending money on a venture that can't pay for itself. Instead, the freshman Republican says he would prefer to put the money into roads and bridges.
The project would cost about $750 million. Backers say the federal government could pick up 80 percent of the tab.
Cravaack's predecessor, former DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar, championed the project that would connect the cities with trains that would travel at up to 110 mph and complete the one-way trip in about two hours.
The federal government recently awarded a $5 million grant for the project's engineering studies.
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