Senate Transportation Committee hears 17 highway funding requests; all bills held over for possible inclusion

St. Paul — The Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony Feb. 24 on 17 separate highway and interchange funding requests from cities, counties and state transportation officials; committee members held each item over for possible inclusion in a later bonding or trunk‑highway bond package.

The bills addressed a mix of safety upgrades, intersection and interchange reconstructions, resurfacing and regional corridor projects across the state — from a grade‑separation study at Trunk Highways 36 and 120 at the Ramsey/Washington county line to a multi‑million‑dollar reconstruction request on U.S. Highway 169 on the Iron Range. Committee members did not take final votes; staff said the items are being reserved (“held over”) for potential inclusion in future bonding or trunk‑highway bond bills.

Why it matters: The proposals largely request state bond or trunk‑highway bond funding to advance design, right‑of‑way and construction on projects local governments and MnDOT identify as safety and freight priorities. Many sponsors emphasized growing traffic, recent crashes and regional economic development tied to planned industrial activity or large employment sites.

Highlights from testimony

- Senate File 959: Senator Tu Xiong presented a request for $3,000,000 for preliminary design of a grade‑separation project at the Trunk Highway 36 and Century Avenue (TH‑120) intersection near North St. Paul and Oakdale. Washington County Commissioner Stan Karwaski testified the intersection "has averaged at least 25 crashes per year" and called the corridor "the fourth highest crash cost in the state of Minnesota." Karwaski said the request would fund initial multi‑agency design work so partners can move forward.

- Senate File 234: Maple Grove Mayor Mark Stefansson asked the committee for $12,300,000 toward replacing the interchange at TH‑169 and Elm Creek Boulevard after a…