The 2019 HCRRA budget is $44.5 million, with a property tax levy of $36 million. The HCRRA seeks to improve rail modes of transportation to enhance mobility as a key part of our transportation system. 

2019 Regional Railroad Authority budget (PDF)

The Railroad Authority currently owns 46 miles of corridors, 11 sites suitable for future park-and-ride lots or stations; and 2 railroad depots; for a total of 83 acres.

The corridors (PDF) include:

• The 15-mile Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail
• The 8-mile Cedar Lake trails
• The 11-mile Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail
• The 5-mile Midtown Greenway
• The 2-mile Northeast Diagonal Trail
• The 13-mile Dakota Rail Trail

Although acquired for future transportation needs, recreational trails have been constructed on these corridors as an interim use. In 2008, with the construction of the the Dakota Rail and Northeast Diagonal corridors, all 55 miles of corridors are devoted to interim use.

Partners

The authority collaborates with many government agencies and a variety of public and nonprofit partners to promote transit development and implement interim uses of rail corridors.

Several HCRRA-owned corridors have found popular interim uses as bicycle and pedestrian trails. However, by statute the HCRRA cannot construct or operate recreational trails, so it partners with the City of Minneapolis and Three Rivers Park District to operate and maintain trails such as the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis and the soon-to-be constructed Dakota Rail Regional Trail which runs through seven municipalities in western Hennepin County.

Background

When established in 1980, the HCRRA's mission was to acquire abandoned railroad corridors in order to preserve them for future transportation use. Today, the HCRRA continues this mission, as well as advocating, planning, and funding rail transportation corridors which will serve the county and the region. The HCRRA is one of several regional railroad authorities in Minnesota.

As a unit of government, the HCRRA has authority to establish levies to fund rail transit projects. HCRRA was a capital investment partner in the Hiawatha Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line, contributing $84.2 million toward design and construction (11.8 percent of the total capital investment).

Permits

Land use permits may be granted for certain non-exclusive uses of HCRRA land, such as minor utility installations, public events, landscaping improvements and more.

Submit a permit request

Fremont Avenue Bridge RFP - supporting documents

• Plans (PDF)
• Chronology (XLS)
• 2017 MnDOT Historic District Reevaluation
• Report for Detailed Inspection and Testing - Stonebrook (2017) (PDF 36MB)
• 2016 Inventory and Inspection Report (PDF)
• 2016 Bridge Rating (PDF)
• 2016 Load Rating Report (PDF)
• 2015 Inventory and Inspection Report (PDF 5MB)
• 2013 Load Rating Report (PDF)
• 2013 Inventory and Inspection Report (PDF)
• Final Midtown Corridor Individual Bridge Summary and Management Plan - Olson (2015) (PDF)