SAINT PAUL, MN—Rep. John Petersburg, R-Waseca, introduced two bills during Thursday's legislative session that aim to bolster Greater Minnesota transportation and Highway 14.
HF286, requests $160 million in trunk highway bonding for the completion of the Owatonna portion of Highway 14.
Another bill, HF282 is a direct appropriation of $200 million from the existing trunk highway fund into the Corridors of Commerce program for each of the next two years. The Corridors of Commerce Program
has previously funded small portions of the Highway 14 Corridor expansion, and other Greater Minnesota transportation projects across the state.
HF282 is supported by a bipartisan coalition of legislators, with multiple GOP and DFL co-authors. Petersburg said he hopes to secure additional co-authors for HF286, which is initially co-authored by GOP Reps. Brian Daniels, R-Faribault and Duane Quam, R-Byron.
"Minnesotans want us to focus our priorities on improving roads and bridges first and foremost," Petersburg said. "I am proud of the continued bipartisan support for Highway 14 and the Corridors of Commerce Program, and hope to see continued focus on road and bridge projects that will improve key roadways in Greater Minnesota and across our state."
The bills were both referred to the Transportation Policy and Finance Committee, where Petersburg serves as Vice Chair. Petersburg said he hopes both bills will receive hearings from Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Tim Kelly for possible inclusion in the Transportation Omnibus bill.
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