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St. Cloud, Minn. (AP)

Northstar puts St. Cloud extension on hold

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It looks like the Northstar commuter rail won't be extended to St. Cloud anytime soon.

The executive committee of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority has decided to recommend not applying for federal funding for the project's second phase, for now.

Northstar officials decided the extension couldn't compete for federal funding. They cite less-than-robust ridership numbers for the Northstar rail line and the Link commuter bus to St. Cloud.

The Cloud Times reports officials decided it made more sense to try to boost ridership and possibly try again later.

The 40-mile line between Big Lake and downtown Minneapolis opened last November. Northstar has been struggling to meet ridership goals, due to the recession, high unemployment and lower gas prices.

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Information from: St. Cloud Times

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)