Gov. Dayton proposes crossing safety projects to be bankrolled partially by railroads

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
image description

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton proposed 75 grade-crossing projects to improve safety and improve congestion across the state.

 

Gov. Dayton recently revealed a comprehensive list of those specific projects, which were compiled by experts at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and chosen based on their levels of danger and congestion.

The governor’s railway safety proposal would invest $330 million over the next 10 years in the construction of safer railroad crossings and provide additional bonding dollars to fund four major grade separations in Coon Rapids, Moorhead, Prairie Island and Willmar. The plan would implement new quiet zones in communities located along busy rail lines, provide better training for emergency managers and first responders and hire a new rail office director who would position the state to play a larger role in addressing freight rail service and safety issues throughout the state.

The proposal would be funded through State General Obligation Bonds, which would help fund the four grade separation projects included in the proposal, as well as a new safety training facility and quiet zones. More funding for the proposal would come from a $33-million annual assessment of the four Class 1 railroads that operate in Minnesota. Additional revenues to pay for the proposal would come from what the governor’s office calls “modernizing” railroad property taxes. This modernization would expand the taxable property of railroads to include rolling stock, rail cars, trestles and rail bridges and the governor’s office estimates these taxes would provide $45 million in annual revenues.

The governor developed his railway safety proposal after holding seven railway safety meetings across Minnesota, hosting a railway safety summit last fall and conducting a statewide survey gathering the input of local community leaders. His recommendations are based on the input of Minnesotans, emergency managers and first responders and experts at MnDOT.

 

Tags: