Minnesota Senate. Required track improvements The Northern Lights Express is planned to use several segments of BNSF track. Starting from the south, it would run along the Wayzata Subdivision from Target Field to Minneapolis Junction, the Midway Subdivision to Northtown Yard, and then enter the Staples Subdivision—the same as the current Northstar commuter line. However, the NLX would turn north at Coon Creek Junction in Coon Rapids to enter the Hinckley Subdivision, which it would follow to Boylston Junction between Foxboro and Superior, Wisconsin. From Boylston, the train would use BNSF's Lakes Subdivision to reach Superior. From Superior to Duluth, the train would be on BNSF again, crossing the Grassy Point swing bridge back into Minnesota and then turning northeast to travel along the shore of St. Louis Bay. The train would exit BNSF rails at Rice's Point and would then run along the North Shore Scenic Railroad for a short segment into the Duluth Union Depot. A preliminary study from around the year 2000 projected a cost of $79 million to purchase rolling stock and upgrade track along the existing line, though this apparently only anticipated service. The cost projection grew to $320 million in 2008, and $615 million in 2009, with a "worst-case scenario" number of $990 million. The latest budget as of 2017 is around $425 million. "Construction costs include final design work, track and signal upgrades to accommodate higher speeds, new and longer sidings to improve traffic flow, grade crossing improvements to increase safety, new train stations, and the expansion of existing stations". Up to 80% of the cost may be covered by the federal government, only requiring 20% from state and local sources. This is comparable to highway projects which often receive 80% or 90% funding from the federal government, and is in contrast to the Hiawatha light rail and Northstar commuter lines which received 50% matching federal funds. The wide range of cost estimates relates to how much of the line between Coon Creek Junction and Duluth would need to be upgraded from the current single-track configuration to a double-track corridor. Running double track all the way to Duluth may bring the cost to $990 million, but the NLX organization has preferred to only run double track north to Sandstone. It was also considered key to upgrade the rails to let trains make the trip in two hours or less. At that pace, the