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 2024 bridge strike closed a westbound lane. Stefansson said the city has secured $7,000,000 in regional STP funds and contributed $1,200,000 local dollars; the total project cost was estimated at about $19.3 million.

- Highway 55 corridor: Senator Limmer outlined a $55,000,000 bond request to address capacity, grade separations and right‑of‑way along Highway 55 in western Hennepin and Wright counties. Mayor Kent Cooke (Loretto) and Hennepin County Commissioner Kevin Anderson described accident rates above comparable corridors and growing development pressure.

- Senate File 1490 (Highway 610, East River Road): Tim Hemmer, a public works director for the city identified in testimony as the project sponsor, requested $10,000,000 toward a full‑access interchange at East River Road and TH‑610, saying preliminary design and environmental work is nearly complete and partners have assembled several million in local funds.

- US Highway 75 (Senate File 151): Senator Sarah Weber and Rock County Commissioner Gary Overgaard sought funding for reconstruction of US‑75 between La Verne and Pipestone. Weber said prior requests listed an $80,000,000 figure and that the project would be a full rebuild rather than overlays.

- Trunk Highway 74 (Senate File 620, Winona County): Senator Drazkowski asked for funds to apply an "auto seal" surfacing to a 4‑mile portion of TH‑74; testimony said the surface previously installed in 2001 lasted 15–20 years and reduced maintenance costs compared with annual crushed‑rock upkeep. MnDOT representatives acknowledged the technique can be appropriate in some places but noted the low traffic volumes on much of this route.

- Lakeville I‑35/County Road 50 (Senate Files 1264 and 1265): Dakota County Commissioner Mary Liz Holberg and Lakeville City Engineer Zach Johnson described interchange constraints that affect emergency access and regional freight, and said the county and city have invested more than $20 million in preparation work; the bills would advance design and construction of a new full interchange.

- Byron/Trunk Highway 14 (Senate File 781): Olmsted County Commissioner Michelle Rossman and county staff asked for $2.4 million for trunk‑highway bond‑eligible work on planned grade‑separated interchanges at what the plan labels County Road 3 and County Road 5, work the county says will remove two signals and an at‑grade rail crossing.

- Rockville/TH‑23 (Senate Files 368 and 367; amended): Senator Howe and local officials sought funds for intersection redesigns and acceleration/right‑turn lanes on Trunk Highway 23 near Rockville. Local testimony opposed placing multiple reduced‑conflict ("J‑turn") intersections in close succession and called for a corridor study (Senate File 367) to evaluate longer‑term fixes.

- Blaine/Highway 65 (Senate Files 1817 and related local requests): Senators and Anoka County and Blaine officials said phase‑1 trunk‑highway funding for Highway 65 is largely in hand and asked for state funds to finish a Bunker Lake Boulevard interchange (phase 2) and to make temporary local improvements permanent to avoid repeated work during trunk‑highway construction.

- US‑169 Iron Range (Senate File 130): Senator Farnsworth and Itasca County Chair Casey Venema described an eight‑mile, last‑two‑lane segment on Highway 169 and sought funds to complete a four‑lane connection; local officials emphasized safety concerns and regional economic drivers including planned mining activity.

Other local requests included a short frontage‑road completion in Columbus, a series of corridor and intersection requests from Scott County and Elko New Market, and a Ham Lake frontage redesign near TH‑65. Committee members repeatedly reminded testifiers that items would be "held over for possible inclusion" rather than advanced to final action at the hearing.

Quotes from the hearing

"It has averaged at least 25 crashes per year," Washington County Commissioner Stan Karwaski said of the TH‑36/TH‑120 intersection, describing the site as a longtime safety priority.

"We will be shovel ready on this project by the end of the year," Tim Hemmer said about the East River Road/TH‑610 interchange, adding the local sponsors had assembled prior grants and $4,000,000 in local investments.

"Every semester I have the honor to speak to seniors at Blaine High School... The number one topic on everybody's mind is Trunk Highway 65," Anoka County Commissioner Julie Jepsen said while urging funding for Bunker Lake Boulevard interchange work.

What happens next

Committee members did not approve or reject any of the requests at the Feb. 24 hearing; staff said each file will be held over for potential inclusion in forthcoming bonding or trunk‑highway bond negotiations. Sponsors frequently identified the requested appropriation amount and whether the money sought was trunk‑highway bond‑eligible or general‑obligation (GO) bond funding; precise funding sources and final project scopes will depend on subsequent committee and conference decisions.

Meeting context and scope

The committee heard testimony on 17 bills ranging from small local frontage projects to large corridor reconstructions and interchange builds. Local officials emphasized safety, freight access and recent or anticipated regional growth as drivers for each request. MnDOT representatives engaged on technical questions and described the agency's view on certain surfacing techniques and the suitability of lower‑cost interim treatments versus full interchanges.

— Reporting from the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee hearing on Feb. 24, 2025. The committee recessed with all items held over for possible inclusion in future bonding or trunk‑highway bond legislation.