Lt. Governor Smith Highlights Need for Comprehensive Investments in Critical Infrastructure
ST. PAUL, MN – Lt. Governor Tina Smith today hosted a roundtable discussion about the Prairie Island Rail Crossing, which divides the Prairie Island Indian Community and the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant from the rest of Red Wing. Lt. Governor Smith was joined by Public Safety Commissioner Mona Dohman, Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle, area legislators, and local officials at the event. To enhance public safety at Prairie Island, Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have proposed a $14.8 million investment
in their Jobs Bill to separate Sturgeon Lake Road and the Canadian Pacific rail track.
“Our Jobs Bill puts Minnesota families and communities first by investing in priorities like transportation, food and housing, and education,” said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. “The Prairie Island rail separation project is critically important to improving public safety during an emergency. Our Jobs Bill also includes resources to complete the Red Wing harbor project, which will the support the vitality and economic growth of the community. I urge the Legislature to pass a significant Jobs Bill this year that invests in critical infrastructure that Minnesotans depend upon.”
Approximately 40 trains per day traveling at up to 79 miles per hour pass through the area. A derailment or crash blocking Sturgeon Lake Road could have serious consequences because the road is Prairie Island’s only public roadway and evacuation route. The need is heightened by the presence of critical infrastructure, including the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Lock and Dam Number 3, Treasure Island Resort and Casino, and the homes of several hundred members of the Prairie Island Indian Community.
“Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith place a high priority on rail safety, and that includes ensuring first responders have the training, equipment and ability to respond in the event of an incident involving the many trains that crisscross Minnesota every day,” said Public Safety Commissioner Mona Dohman. “We need to do all we can to make rail crossings as safe as possible. This project will ensure that law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services won’t have to wait for a train while responding to an emergency.”
Every day, trains carrying oil and other hazardous materials pass through Minnesota. These trains present real risks to public safety and our natural resources. That is why the Governor and Lt. Governor’s budget proposal would provide over $40 million for Minnesota communities to invest in rail safety and other essential services.
Additional Red Wing Area Jobs Bill Projects
In addition to the Prairie Island Rail Crossing separation project, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have included several other Red Wing area projects in their Jobs Bill:
· Red Wing River Town Renaissance – Red Wing is a cultural and economic center for southeast Minnesota, however, its harbor needs reinvestment to remain a hub for shipping and river excursions. Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have included $4 million in their Jobs Bill to help complete the River Town Renaissance projects. This funding would help replace a deteriorating harbor retaining wall, renovate the T.B. Sheldon Theater, install new docks at Levee Park, and make other improvements to the park promenade.
· Mississippi River Walk Trail and Trailhead – To further revitalize the City of Red Wing’s riverfront, the Governor and Lt. Governor have included $800,000 in their Jobs Bill for improvements to Levee Park through the Minnesota Port Development Assistance Program.
· Red Wing Correctional Facility – Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have included $2.25 million in their Jobs Bill to make security and deferred maintenance improvements at the Red Wing Correctional Facility. Likely projects include window and door replacements, roof replacements, and other building repairs and upgrades.
About Governor Dayton’s Jobs Bill
Governor Dayton’s Jobs Bill would invest $1.4 billion in infrastructure projects statewide, creating an estimated 39,900 Minnesota jobs*. This new Jobs Bill would help address many of the state’s critical infrastructure needs, including essential water infrastructure, while strengthening Minnesota’s economy and putting thousands of people to work.
The Jobs Bill includes critical infrastructure projects distributed across Minnesota. It balances the needs of the state, with 35 percent of projects in Greater Minnesota, 35 percent in the Twin Cities Area, and 30 percent having impacts statewide. And Governor Dayton’s Jobs Bill is designed to make state resources go further, by leveraging more than $600 million in private, local, and federal dollars.
