Re: Zip Rail and NAHSRG Rail to Rochester
Posted: December 17th, 2015, 8:06 am
So, a few things from the documents. These are the two best links. I'll just be posting various observations and such here.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/291524801/NAH ... Plan-MNDOT
http://www.scribd.com/doc/291588481/Sum ... or-Reports
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NAHSRG is a holding company, and there will be 2 sub-companies for the HSR and real estate, respectively. The leader of the HSR one is apparently a recognizable and "credible" leader.
Source: https://i.imgur.com/rOXnzi6.png (link 2, page 12) (Email from this spring)
A description of this person:
(link 1, page 27)
As it turns out, MnDOT had that staff and budget when Tom Sorel was Commissioner. When I googled him, I found this "press release" from about a month ago with the same, although more detailed, description. (Idk what the website is, but it's been registered since 1999). As I noted, the email came far before this release, so it isn't like they just found that description of Tom Sorel on google like I did.
http://www.serco-na.com/news/press-rele ... of-surface
So allegedly Tom Sorel would lead their rail operations.
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According to the engineering consultant, there was a second group that indicated interest in the route (that we know wayyy less about). Additionally, building HSR trainset manufacturing capacity in Minnesota is planned.
Source (blue squares): https://i.imgur.com/jDDqui2.png (link 2, page 1)
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In another email from that consultant, one can see some of the informal governent approval from "Stage 1" in the business plan.
Source: https://i.imgur.com/eKQT5Bm.png (link 2, page 4)
More interestingly, it says: "Total private sector investment is $8-$10 billion including rail, stations, and significant other development in both the Twin Cities, Cannon Falls and Rochester."
This may be a bit speculative, but given the circumstances, I think that the real estate investment sub-company may be the vehicle for a lot of the expected non-mayo private-sector DMC investment. The DMC and Zip Rail investment numbers, together, give that "$8-$10 billion".
This rail line won't be profitable on its own, yet is crucial for the DMC project (and related things like the 2023 expo); paying for the rail line using the positive externalities it generates makes sense, and is what this plan would do.
~Cannon Falls would have the maintanence facility (as has been mentioned previously)
Source (red box): https://i.imgur.com/jDDqui2.png (link 2, page 1)
~Bloomington would have the HSR manufacturing ("this designation provides for flexible, high-tech fabrication")
See South Loop zoning: https://forum.streets.mn/viewtopic.php?f=17& ... 80#p100136
~Rochester obviously has the DMC
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"NAHSRG's primary partner will be China CNR Corporation" (which has since merged with CSR into CRRC)
Source: https://i.imgur.com/DtGXqP8.png (link 2, page 12)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRRC_Corporation
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One more circumstantial thing that I recall reading (found it!) was that the CTIB would fund 80% of a Riverview LRT line.
Source: https://forum.streets.mn/viewtopic.php?f=18& ... 260#p95914
While the "east metro wanting transit equity" thing does probably apply, there are also 4 other east metro corridors in the works, and yet it is Riverview, connecting St Paul to the South Loop, that CTIB really wants to happen, almost as if they possessed some kind of insider-information that made its way through governing circles and some of the legislature.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A bit more speculation, but after reading through the emails (and with prior knowledge), I have a guess as to what happened this year. It looks like between the mess of the transportation bill (and lack thereof), the DMC loophole that had to be closed, Rep. Drazkowski's attempts to interfere with the Zip Rail project, the rest of the chaotic session (last-minute bill-passing anyone?), and politcal concerns about the next election, the formal public acceptance/permission for this project didn't quite happen as it was supposed to.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, that's enough for now, I'm done; enough links and text in this post, gonna have a nap. (protip: you should always include a dozen links in your post)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/291524801/NAH ... Plan-MNDOT
http://www.scribd.com/doc/291588481/Sum ... or-Reports
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAHSRG is a holding company, and there will be 2 sub-companies for the HSR and real estate, respectively. The leader of the HSR one is apparently a recognizable and "credible" leader.
Source: https://i.imgur.com/rOXnzi6.png (link 2, page 12) (Email from this spring)
A description of this person:
(link 1, page 27)
As it turns out, MnDOT had that staff and budget when Tom Sorel was Commissioner. When I googled him, I found this "press release" from about a month ago with the same, although more detailed, description. (Idk what the website is, but it's been registered since 1999). As I noted, the email came far before this release, so it isn't like they just found that description of Tom Sorel on google like I did.
http://www.serco-na.com/news/press-rele ... of-surface
So allegedly Tom Sorel would lead their rail operations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to the engineering consultant, there was a second group that indicated interest in the route (that we know wayyy less about). Additionally, building HSR trainset manufacturing capacity in Minnesota is planned.
Source (blue squares): https://i.imgur.com/jDDqui2.png (link 2, page 1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In another email from that consultant, one can see some of the informal governent approval from "Stage 1" in the business plan.
Source: https://i.imgur.com/eKQT5Bm.png (link 2, page 4)
More interestingly, it says: "Total private sector investment is $8-$10 billion including rail, stations, and significant other development in both the Twin Cities, Cannon Falls and Rochester."
This may be a bit speculative, but given the circumstances, I think that the real estate investment sub-company may be the vehicle for a lot of the expected non-mayo private-sector DMC investment. The DMC and Zip Rail investment numbers, together, give that "$8-$10 billion".
This rail line won't be profitable on its own, yet is crucial for the DMC project (and related things like the 2023 expo); paying for the rail line using the positive externalities it generates makes sense, and is what this plan would do.
~Cannon Falls would have the maintanence facility (as has been mentioned previously)
Source (red box): https://i.imgur.com/jDDqui2.png (link 2, page 1)
~Bloomington would have the HSR manufacturing ("this designation provides for flexible, high-tech fabrication")
See South Loop zoning: https://forum.streets.mn/viewtopic.php?f=17& ... 80#p100136
~Rochester obviously has the DMC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"NAHSRG's primary partner will be China CNR Corporation" (which has since merged with CSR into CRRC)
Source: https://i.imgur.com/DtGXqP8.png (link 2, page 12)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRRC_Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One more circumstantial thing that I recall reading (found it!) was that the CTIB would fund 80% of a Riverview LRT line.
Source: https://forum.streets.mn/viewtopic.php?f=18& ... 260#p95914
While the "east metro wanting transit equity" thing does probably apply, there are also 4 other east metro corridors in the works, and yet it is Riverview, connecting St Paul to the South Loop, that CTIB really wants to happen, almost as if they possessed some kind of insider-information that made its way through governing circles and some of the legislature.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A bit more speculation, but after reading through the emails (and with prior knowledge), I have a guess as to what happened this year. It looks like between the mess of the transportation bill (and lack thereof), the DMC loophole that had to be closed, Rep. Drazkowski's attempts to interfere with the Zip Rail project, the rest of the chaotic session (last-minute bill-passing anyone?), and politcal concerns about the next election, the formal public acceptance/permission for this project didn't quite happen as it was supposed to.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, that's enough for now, I'm done; enough links and text in this post, gonna have a nap. (protip: you should always include a dozen links in your post)