U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) on May 1 applauded a recent state funding win toward fixing Minnesota’s highways, but said the work has only just begun.
“While this is a major step forward, it is still just the beginning,” said the congressman, referring to the recent announcement that Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District, which he represents, would receive more than $200 million for two major highway projects. “This investment will kick start major change, directly benefiting Minnesotans in my district and across the state.”
Interstate-94 in St. Michael and Albertville and U.S. Highway 169 in Elk River were selected to receive the funds as part of the state’s Corridors of Commerce Program, created in 2013 by the Minnesota Legislature to authorize the sale of up to $300 million in new trunk highway bonds for construction, reconstruction and improvement projects not already in the State Transportation Improvement Program, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).
“This is an incredible win for constituents of the Sixth District,” said Rep. Emmer, who led a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues in urging MnDOT Commissioner Charles Zelle to approve the funding in an April 4 letter. Joining him in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), Jason Lewis (R-MN), Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Rick Nolan (D-MN), and U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN).
“As I wrote to Commissioner Zelle, while Minnesota’s metropolitan communities and businesses have continued to expand, our transportation infrastructure has not kept pace, creating a strain on those who rely on these highways,” Rep. Emmer said this week.
The congressman explained that I-94 in particular is a critical transportation corridor in the state and its “ability to handle capacity efficiently and safely is absolutely key.” Ensuring funding to complete this highway project has been a top priority since he joined Congress, Rep. Emmer added. Phase 2 of the I-94 project received $1.4 million in Corridors of Commerce Program funding for initial engineering and design costs, the letter said.
Going forward, Rep. Emmer said that he “will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to provide federal support for Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure to promote safe and efficient movement of people and goods” across the state.
In the April 4 letter, Rep. Emmer wrote that he and Minnesota federal lawmakers think the I-94 corridor is “well-positioned to leverage local and state funding with new federal resources to further promote” that goal.