For the downtown route, after using part of the Duluth –Minnesota –Eastern (DME) route an
abandoned rail right-of-way can be used to head west out of the city across Highway 52 and then
northwest to Pine Island, where it again connects with Highway 52. The Highway 52 route takes
a more northerly direction from Rochester but then cuts back northwesterly from Oronoco to
Pine Island. From Pine Island north, the route heads northwesterly via Cannon Falls, Hampton,
and Coates, and finally enters the Twin Cities area just east of Eagan along Route 28 using a CP
rail right-of-way. As with the Tri-State route, it would use the CP right-of-way to gain access to
the river, close to the airport. The 494 Bridge would be used to cross the Minnesota River, and
the CN line gives access to the airport. As in the case of the Tri-State route, the airport terminal
is accessed by using the airport access road. A station would be located close to the existing
parking and rental car facilities.