Anoka County Regional Railroad Authority, August 25th, 2026

The Anoka County Regional Railroad Authority held a meeting on August 25, 2026, focusing primarily on the status and future of the authority given the dissolution of the Northstar train service. Despite the cessation of Northstar, the authority remains active due to ongoing railroad operations through the county and potential future projects involving Amtrak and Burlington Northern. The discussion highlighted the authority's financial health, noting approximately $5 million in reserves, which can be allocated to transportation-related projects such as bridge improvements and pedestrian crossings. The authority has not levied taxes recently due to these healthy reserves and has completed land sales that previously contributed to its funds. A resolution was passed to approve the proposed budget and tax levy for 2027, maintaining the authority's readiness to engage in future railroad or transit projects, including potential involvement with the Northern Lights Express. The meeting underscored the importance of keeping the authority active to manage ongoing and future infrastructure needs related to railroads in the county.