Coon Rapids–Foley Boulevard station
Coon Rapids–Foley Boulevard | |||||||||||
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| General information | |||||||||||
| Location | 9425 Foley Boulevard, Coon Rapids, MN 55433[1] | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 45°8′29″N 93°17′10″W / 45.14139°N 93.28611°W | ||||||||||
| Owned by | Metro Transit | ||||||||||
| Line | BNSF Staples Subdivision | ||||||||||
| Connections | Bus routes 850, 852[1] | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Parking | 3,200 spaces[2] | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Coon Rapids–Foley Boulevard station is a planned train station in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, United States, at the site of a current Metro Transit park and ride facility. The station was originally included in plans for the Northstar Line, but was cut from that project to meet the Federal Transit Administration's cost-effectiveness index (CEI).[3][4]
The current park-and-ride facility is located on a sliver of land in between Minnesota State Highway 610 and Foley Boulevard. It has 3,200 parking spaces with a surface lot and a two-story parking ramp, giving it more than four times the capacity of the largest existing Northstar station, Elk River (754 spaces).[2][5] Despite the fact that it already existed and would be a significant source of riders, calculation of the cost-effectiveness index was biased toward saving time of commuters. Riders would not save enough time by changing from the existing bus service to rail, so the station was dropped.[4]
Anoka County and the city of Coon Rapids have been acquiring land and making arrangements for matching funds for the station. It is expected to cost approximately $15 million to build the station. Construction would likely occur along with a related project to add a third set of rails along this stretch of track, which is the busiest in Minnesota. The third main line would allow additional passenger rail traffic. The station was planned to serve both the Northstar Line and the Northern Lights Express, since it is nicely located just south of Coon Creek Junction where the BNSF Hinckley Subdivision branches off of the Staples Subdivision main line.[3][6]
In August 2025, it was announced that the Northstar Line would be discontinued in January 2026. However, the Northern Lights Express would still serve the station if it were built.[7] The last trains on the Northstar Line ran on January 4, 2026, serving a Vikings–Packers game.[8]
References
- ^ a b "Park & Ride". Metro Transit. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ^ a b Minneapolis-Duluth/Superior: Restoration of Intercity Passenger Rail Service Comprehensive Feasibility Study and Business Plan (ch. 1–2, ch 3, ch 4–10, appendices). Transportation Economics & Management Systems, Inc., December 2007. Accessed December 18, 2009.
- ^ a b Peter Bodley (December 30, 2009). "State funds sought for Foley Station". Coon Rapids Herald. ABC Newspapers. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
- ^ a b Peter Bodley (December 24, 2003). "Scaled-back Northstar is likely". Coon Rapids Herald. ABC Newspapers. Retrieved February 11, 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Elk River Station". Northstar Line. Metro Transit. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
- ^ BNSF Easement Rights and Passenger Rail Capacity Improvements Archived 2012-09-02 at the Wayback Machine. Minnesota Department of Transportation, September 15, 2009
- ^ "Metro Transit slated to end Northstar train service in January | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul". www.fox9.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ Mohs, Marielle (January 4, 2026). "Northstar line's farewell ride departs downtown Minneapolis after Vikings' season-closing win". CBS News. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved January 4, 2026.