St. Paul, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved the strongest Transportation budget bill in a generation. The bill includes $25 million for the Highway 65 project, a major priority for Rep. Matt Norris (DFL - Blaine) who sits on the Transportation Committee and voted for the bill.
“Since the first day of session, securing funding for the critical Highway 65 project has been my number one priority,” said Rep. Norris. “I am incredibly proud the project was prioritized in this budget. While we still need additional funds to complete the project, this is a major first step and one I would not have been able to accomplish without the support of many local partners. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible. I will continue to pursue additional strategies to secure the remaining funds needed to complete this project for our community.”
The $25 million allocated is almost 17 times more than the Legislature had previously directed toward the project. Highway 65 is one of only three roads in the whole state to receive dedicated funding in this bill. This funding will allow improvements to the intersection at Highway 65 and 99th Ave. to begin, a critical aspect of the project.
“I want to thank Rep. Norris for his tireless advocacy on this issue,” said Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL - Minneapolis) Chair of the House Transportation Committee. “Simply put, without Rep. Norris, this funding to jumpstart Highway 65 construction wouldn’t be happening.”
The House transportation budget bill makes investments in roads, bridges, and transit systems across the state. It leverages billions of dollars in federal funds. It places a high priority on curbing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and makes critical investments in road and transit safety.
“I used to represent part of this area of Blaine before redistricting, so I know how important action on Highway 65 is,” said Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL - Spring Lake Park) Chair of the Sustainable Infrastructure Committee. “That’s why I was thrilled to include the funding Rep. Norris has been working hard to secure in my amendment to the Transportation Budget Bill.”
Video of the floor debate will be uploaded to the House Information Youtube page.
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