Coon Rapids–Foley Boulevard station

{{Short description|Planned rail station in Minnesota, US}}

{{about|a planned station|the current station|Coon Rapids–Riverdale station}}

{{update|date=November 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox station

| style =

| name = Coon Rapids–Foley Boulevard

| image =

| image_size =

| image_caption =

| address = 9425 Foley Boulevard, Coon Rapids, MN 55433{{cite web|url=http://www.metrotransit.org/serviceinfo/parkride.asp|title=Park & Ride|publisher=Metro Transit|accessdate=2010-02-07}}

| coordinates = {{Coord|45|8|29|N|93|17|10|W|display=inline,title}}

| line = {{rail color box|system=Metro Transit (Minnesota)|line=Northstar Commuter Rail|note=888, proposed}}

| other = Bus routes 850, 852

| platform =

| tracks =

| parking = 3,200 spacesMinneapolis-Duluth/Superior: Restoration of Intercity Passenger Rail Service Comprehensive Feasibility Study and Business Plan ([http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/docs/TEMS_C_1_2.pdf ch. 1–2], [http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/docs/TEMS_C_3.pdf ch 3], [http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/docs/TEMS_C_4_10.pdf ch 4–10], [http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/docs/TEMS_Appendices.pdf appendices]). Transportation Economics & Management Systems, Inc., December 2007. Accessed December 18, 2009.

| bicycle =

| baggage_check =

| passengers =

| pass_year =

| pass_percent =

| pass_system =

| opened =

| closed =

| rebuilt =

| accessible =

| code =

| owned = Metro Transit

| zone =

| services = {{Adjacent stations

|system1=Metro Transit (Minnesota)|header1=Proposed

|line2=Northstar Commuter Rail|left2=Coon Rapids–Riverdale|right2=Fridley|note-mid2=Route 888

|system3=Amtrak|line3=Northern Lights Express|left3=Cambridge|right3=Minneapolis Target Field

}}

| mpassengers=

}}

Coon Rapids–Foley Boulevard is a planned infill station on the Northstar commuter rail line in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, United States, at the site of a current Metro Transit park and ride facility. The station was originally included in Northstar plans, but it was cut in order to meet the Federal Transit Administration's cost-effectiveness index (CEI).{{cite web|url=http://abcnewspapers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10440&Itemid=28|title=State funds sought for Foley Station|publisher=ABC Newspapers|work=Coon Rapids Herald|author=Peter Bodley|date=December 30, 2009|accessdate=2009-02-07}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abcnewspapers.com/2003/coonrapids/december/24northstar.html|title=Scaled-back Northstar is likely|work=Coon Rapids Herald|publisher=ABC Newspapers|author=Peter Bodley|date=December 24, 2003|accessdate=2009-02-11}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

The current park-and-ride facility is located on a sliver of land in between Minnesota State Highway 610 and Foley Boulevard. It has 3,200 parking spaces with a surface lot and a two-story parking ramp, giving it more than four times the capacity of the largest existing Northstar station, Elk River (754 spaces).{{cite web|url=http://www.metrotransit.org/Northstar/stations/ElkRiver.asp|title=Elk River Station|work=Northstar Line|publisher=Metro Transit|accessdate=2010-02-10}} Despite the fact that it already existed and would be a significant source of riders, calculation of the cost-effectiveness index was biased toward saving time of commuters. Riders would not save enough time by changing from the existing bus service to rail, so the station was dropped.

Anoka County and the city of Coon Rapids have been acquiring land and making arrangements for matching funds for the station. It is expected to cost approximately $15 million to build the station. Construction will likely occur along with a related project to add a third set of rails along this stretch of track, which is the busiest in Minnesota. The third main line will allow additional passenger rail traffic, including the proposed Northern Lights Express project to connect to Duluth. The station will serve both lines, since it is nicely located just south of Coon Creek Junction where the BNSF Hinckley Subdivision branches off of the Staples Subdivision main line.[http://www.dot.state.mn.us/federalrecovery/docs/bnsfpassengerrail.pdf BNSF Easement Rights and Passenger Rail Capacity Improvements] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902024306/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/federalrecovery/docs/bnsfpassengerrail.pdf |date=2012-09-02 }}. Minnesota Department of Transportation, September 15, 2009