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<br />fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments
<br />701.232.3242. FAX 701.232.5043 . Case Plaza Suite 232 . One North 2nd Street. Fargo. North Dakota 58102
<br />
<br />Email: metrocog@fmmetrocog,org
<br />
<br />http://www.fmmetrocog.org
<br />
<br />April 18, 2006
<br />
<br />RECEIVED
<br />
<br />Cass County Commissioners
<br />211 9th St South
<br />Fargo, ND 58103
<br />
<br />APR 212006'
<br />
<br />RE: Intennodal Freight Transportation in the Fargo Moorhead Metro Area
<br />
<br />CASS COUNTY COMMISSION
<br />
<br />Dear Cass County Commissioners,
<br />
<br />The Fargo Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments has been coordinating an effort over Ihe last several years to
<br />--enhance the level ofintennodal freighttransportation,lntennodal freight transportation is theabilityoflocal'businesse8'to'-.
<br />load goods into a metal container, truck that container to an intennodal facility and then load it onto a train for delivery to a
<br />domestic or foreign market This mode of transportation is particularly important for foreign shipments and is commonly
<br />used for specialty agricultural products going to Asian markets.
<br />
<br />Metro COG has been working with a shippers committee to keep the Dilworth intennodal facility viable and more recently
<br />with the North Dakota DOT's efforts to enhance intennodal service in North Dakota. As I am sure you understand, BNSF
<br />is the unknown in this equation and whether or not selVice can be improved remains questionable. If we are successful in
<br />our efforts, however, a key policy question arises.
<br />
<br />Keeping the Dilworth intennodal facility viable will mean that local shippers will utilize this facility more. While the
<br />facility can technically handle more volume, a large increase in traffic may necessitate the need for a new facility at some
<br />point in time. While this point may not be reached for years, it would still be prudent to plan in advance and identify a
<br />location so that a particular community has time to incorporate it into transportation and land use plans.
<br />
<br />How a site would be identified is problematic. While FM COG can provide technical expertise to analyze a site or sites
<br />and provide decision makers with cost and other answers it is beyond our capability to select a particular site, My
<br />recommendation has always been that any site or sites be evaluated based on a consistent set of standards to identify
<br />impacts, needs, costs and other reh;vant information, This would provide the basis for an open evaluation of any sites, and
<br />in the event there are competing sites, they could be compared side by side on consistent criteria.
<br />
<br />To take this to a decision point would require, in my concept, the elected leadership in the metro area to agree beforehand
<br />on a fair and equitable process to allow for a decision to be made according to the pre-established process and criteria. .
<br />Whether this would involve something like a blue ribbon panel or other mechanism would be up to the elected leadership.
<br />
<br />
<br />I discussed this with the FM COG Executive Committee and their suggestion was that the issue be forwarded to the elected
<br />leadership of all member jurisdictions to allow them to review and deliberate the issue and comment back to FM COG. '
<br />
<br />I would therefore respectfully request that you review this issue with your elected body at your earliest convenience. Your
<br />thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated.
<br />
<br />Sincerely,
<br />
<br />
<br />gi~
<br />
<br />
<br />A PLANNING ORGANIZATION SERVING
<br />FARGO, WEST FARGO, CASS COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA AND MOORHEAD, DilWORTH, CLAY COUNTY, MINNESOTA
<br />
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