Pine County moves Soo Line corridor under Regional Rail Authority, approves one crossing easement and directs short-term permits

Pine County commissioners voted Jan. 7 to quitclaim the county-owned Soo Line rail corridor to the Pine County Regional Rail Authority and then convened the rail authority to handle related trail crossing business. During the same session the authority approved a permanent easement for a property owner and agreed to allow the land commissioner to issue short-term (up to one year) crossing permits while staff develops a longer-term approach.

Why it matters: the move consolidates ownership and permit authority for the corridor under the county’s rail authority, clarifies which entity issues crossing permits, and resolves a specific property-access request that had required a survey and an appraisal.

Transfer of ownership and legal context County staff and administrators told the board the county currently holds title to the Soo Line corridor while the Pine County Regional Rail Authority holds title to a separate Highway 23 corridor. County staff recommended transferring the Soo Line deed to the rail authority so that a single entity and ordinance would cover permitted uses.

County Administrator…