The Northstar Commuter Line became a reality when the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Thomas Barrett signed an agreement in Anoka committing $157 million to the rail line that will shuttle passengers between Big Lake and downtown Minneapolis.

The line will open in 2009 with hopes that it will someday reach into St. Cloud and become a viable means of transportation for Otter Tail County residents who could park in St. Cloud and ride the train down to the Twin Cities.

The $157 million in federal transportation money, however, shows us just how much project delays can hurt a project.

Had the agreement with the federal government been signed in 2003 when the project was to originally be launched, the entire project would have cost $165 million &8212; just eight million dollars more than the federal grant. In addition, under 2003&8217;s $165 million project, the Northstar line would have extended from Minneapolis to St. Cloud.

Today the cost of the project has doubled and the route has been cut nearly in half.

Barrett saluted Minnesota for &8220;being innovative&8221; and said the federal government would give other Minnesota projects strong consideration &8212; including ultimately extending the Northstar Line to St. Cloud.

We challenge our lawmakers to embrace those words and begin planning today for our transportation needs of tomorrow.

&8212; The Daily Journal of Fergus Falls, Dec. 12