If you commute to the cities for work, the Minnesota Legislature might have just helped you out.

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Legislature announced a compromised Transportation budget. The budget includes funding to conduct an assessment of extending the Northstar commuter rail to St. Cloud.

Dan Wolgamott, of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party, and the author of the legislation said, “The people of Central Minnesota spoke, and legislature has listened. This funding gives the Minnesota Department of Transportation the tools it would need to make sure that an extension of Northstar would be done in a prudent and responsible manner. After years of inaction, we’re finally getting on the right track. I will be enthusiastically voting for this Transportation budget, and I will continue to be a tireless advocate of bringing Northstar to St. Cloud.”

Although construction is not yet under way, this funding will help assess the estimated costs of the project among other things.