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Senate Transportation Committee hears 38 bonding and highway requests; one bill advanced to finance
Summary
The Senate Transportation Committee on April 22 heard 38 informational items, including a Corridors of Commerce overview and dozens of local bonding requests; the committee voted to refer one naming bill to finance and took no other final actions.
The Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee met April 22 for an informational hearing on 38 items ranging from local street and utility projects to statewide highway safety work. Chair opened the hearing and set three-minute public testimony limits as towns, counties and cities outlined projects they said require state support.
The committee voted to recommend that Senate File 51‑49 — a measure to name a highway section in White Bear Lake after Sergeant Nikola Moore — be referred to the finance committee. After a brief statement honoring Sergeant Moore, the chair asked for voices for the motion; members responded and the chair said the motion carried.
Margaret Donahoe, executive director of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, told the committee the Corridors of Commerce program has invested roughly $1.8 billion since 2013 and asked the Legislature to authorize additional trunk-highway bonds in the next capital bonding bill to continue safety and economic investments. “The Corridors of Commerce program provides a transparent process to allocate funds to the highest-ranked projects all across the state,” Donahoe said.
Multiple local officials presented time-sensitive projects they said are ready to proceed if state funds are available. Cook County Commissioner Sullivan asked the panel for $10 million to complete the final 10 miles of the Gunflint Trail resurfacing and culvert/bridge replacements, saying local partners had already secured about $4.5 million and federal/state funds are available only through 2028. “I’m here today to respectfully request your support for $10 million in state funding to complete improvements for that final 10 miles of the Gunflint Trail,” Sullivan said.
Cities and counties across Greater Minnesota described infrastructure needs that include water and sewer replacements, pedestrian overpasses, intersection safety improvements and multimodal connections. Testimony covered projects such as a proposed Oakdale pedestrian overpass over I‑694, a final phase on Trunk Highway 13 to preserve freight access to the Ports of Savage, and multiple roundabout and interchange proposals intended to reduce severe crashes.
Most items were presented as informational requests; committee members and staff indicated many will be considered during bonding and budget development. Absent a formal roll-call vote record at the hearing, the chair recorded the single motion noted above and adjourned the session.
What happens next: SF 51‑49 will move to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration. The hearing packet and testimony will inform deliberations on bonding and trunk-highway funding during the coming weeks.
