Minnesota governor proposes “make up” bonding bill with $91M for rail

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
image description
The proposed bonding bill includes $12.6 million to separate Hanson Boulevard from BNSF tracks in Coon Rapids, Minn.
Anoka County

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith introduced a bill that would spend $1.5 billion to build more than 240 projects across the state, including more than $91 million in rail projects.

 

Minnesota legislators failed to pass a bonding bill at the close of the 2016 session.

“My proposals would put thousands of Minnesotans to work throughout our state, increasing economic opportunity and strengthening local economies,” said Gov. Dayton. “This bill will help deliver clean, reliable water to Minnesota communities, ensure our higher education institutions have the facilities they need to train our workforce, and build community projects across our state. I urge the Legislature to pass this Jobs Bill quickly, to support our local economies and create good jobs across the state.”

The governor says the bonding bill would help address many of the state’s infrastructure needs and balances the needs of the state, with 35 percent of projects in Greater Minnesota, 30 percent in the Twin Cities Area and 35 percent having impacts statewide. Additionally, the governor says the bill is designed to make state resources go further, by leveraging more than $600 million in private, local and federal investment in Minnesota’s infrastructure.

The majority of the funds included in the proposal for rail, more than $69 million, are designated for grade separations along crude oil routes. The bill would provide $42.3 million for a grade separation in Moorhead where 85 trains pass through the city every day, but the configuration of the tracks and streets makes gate installation impossible. The bill also includes $14.8 million for a project in Prairie Island to separate the tracks from Sturgeon Lake Road, which is the town’s only public roadway and evacuation route. The final grade separation included in the proposal is for the Hanson Boulevard crossing in Coon Rapids, which the governor’s office said is “regularly blocked by trains,” which makes it difficult for emergency vehicles to travel across town.

The grade crossing deemed the state’s worst, the Ferry Street/BNSF crossing in Anoka, was not included in the project list. The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently completed a study of the crossing and made a recommendation to separate the railroad from the highway with a road flyover. The project is currently unfunded.

The state has $3 billion available in bonding capacity for 2017-2018. The governor’s office said the proposal stays within the limits. The proposal will now be considered by the state legislature.

Tags: