MnDOT seeks $68 million for pavement, ports, drainage and building upgrades in governor’s 2026 ask

Nancy Daubenberger, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, presented the governor’s 2026 capital recommendations for MnDOT to the House capital investment committee. She said the administration’s total capital investment recommendation is $907 million statewide, with $68 million earmarked for transportation programs.

Daubenberger described four priorities that make up the $68 million: a high-priority pavement program funded largely through trunk-highway bonds (about $50 million), $4 million in general-obligation bonds for port development assistance, $4 million for a drainage asset management program to assess and repair hydraulic infrastructure, and $10 million to remodel the Transportation Building (a mix of trunk-highway cash and general funds) to consolidate staff and improve energy efficiency.

The commissioner emphasized the need to prevent pavement-condition deterioration over the next decade and said investments protect safety, commerce and tourism. On ports, she highlighted Duluth’s cargo volumes and said ports need state help to pursue federal matching funds. For drainage, she said MnDOT owns extensive hydraulic assets — tens of thousands of culverts and storm sewer structures — and proposed money to track and prioritize risky hydraulic infrastructure.

Members raised local concerns about a Highway 71 Sauk Center project and requested a town hall and follow-up; members also asked whether funds would be applied to projects already on rolling lists or require new solicitations, and MnDOT said local-bridges lists are rolling and more money would translate to projects on the list, though solicitations may be required for some programs.

No votes were taken; members asked MnDOT staff for targeted follow-up and additional detail on the Transportation Building remodel and local impacts.