Senator Amy Klobuchar

Working for the People of Minnesota

Press Contact

Joel Gross
Press Secretary
(202) 224-3244

News Releases

Senators Coleman, Klobuchar React to DOT Decision To Decline DM&E; Railroad Loan

February 26, 2007


(Washington, D.C.) Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today had following response to the Department of Transportation's (DOT) decision to decline the proposed $2.3 billion loan for the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern railroad project.

"The bottom line is that southern Minnesota needs and deserves rail infrastructure that builds a brighter future for the region, not projects that jeopardize the Mayo Clinic and U.S. taxpayers. My hope from the beginning was for this project to work in a way that would meet the rail needs of southern Minnesota communities, as well as the legitimate safety concerns of Rochester and the Mayo Clinic. All along, we have said before we get to the issue of mitigation, this project must pass financial muster and not expose Minnesota and U.S. taxpayers to unacceptable risk," said Coleman. "At the end of the day, the FRA did the right thing by evaluating the risk and concluding this project did not meet its financial standards. I hope that in the future we can build rail infrastructure that is a win-win for all Minnesotans."

"This was the right decision. DM&E should not be allowed to run large numbers of high-speed freight trains right through the heart of Rochester and the Mayo Clinic, said Klobuchar. "While I support more rural rail in Minnesota, DM&E should not be allowed to sneak a $2.3 billion loan -- the largest in the history of the country -- past the American people. I'm glad that the Department of Transportation did not let that happen and that DOT responded to the concerns that my colleagues and I have been raising for the past year. This should send a signal that this new Congress will be exercising oversight and demanding accountability."

 

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