Reconnect Rondo advocates urge support for infrastructure development funding

The Minnesota Legislature's Transportation Policy Committee convened on March 3, 2025, to discuss House Bill 494, which proposes to halt funding for the Rondo land bridge project over I-94. This project aims to reconnect the historic Rondo neighborhood, which has faced significant disruption due to highway construction and other urban development efforts.

During the meeting, Jonathan Palmer, principal of the nonprofit Heroes for Hire and former leader of the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, emphasized the importance of the Rondo project for the African American community. He criticized the repeated attempts to defund the initiative, questioning the motivations behind the Republican Party's opposition to the project. Palmer argued that the Rondo land bridge is not just a local benefit but serves as a vital gathering place for African Americans across Minnesota.

Robert Harper, founder of RDTH Consulting, also provided testimony, highlighting the ongoing disinvestment in Black communities and the lack of contracts awarded to Black contractors by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). He pointed out that from 2017 to 2020, Black contractors received none of the 742 contracts worth over $3 billion. Harper urged the committee to reject the bill, advocating for the Rondo project as a means to foster generational wealth and rectify historical injustices.

The discussions underscored the broader implications of the bill, with advocates arguing that halting funding would perpetuate systemic inequities faced by marginalized communities. The committee's decision on House Bill 494 will be pivotal in determining the future of the Rondo land bridge and its potential impact on the community.