“As you complete your strategic plan to improve and deploy high-speed passenger rail systems in the United States, as mandated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA),” the letter from the governors reads, “we are pleased to share with you the unique qualities of our regional initiative and the reasons we believe projects in these corridors should be given top priority for high-speed passenger rail funding.”

As Pawlenty pointed out in the letter (pdf), Minnesota is already ahead of the game in implementing its parts of the plan.

Some Phase II projects are ready to go – for example, the St. Paul Union Depot project, which is being renovated to serve as a hub for Amtrak, inter- and intracity bus and passenger rail. In late 2009, the Northstar Commuter Rail Line, Hiawatha LRT and intra-city bus will all converge adjacent to the new Minnesota Twins stadium in Minneapolis. Minnesota has also established a Passenger Rail Forum of key stakeholders to develop data-driven, collaborative decisions on further rail development. The forum will play a key role in completion and implementation of a Minnesota Passenger and Freight Rail Plan. These efforts offer a strong local foundation for Minnesota’s connection to the MWRRI.

And with the extra federal funds, a high-speed rail from Minneapolis to Duluth is in the cards as well, according to the letter.