ST. PAUL, MN - Last month, Governor Mark Dayton /governor/assets/transportation_plan_fact_sheet.pdf_tcm1055-91876.pdfproposed an honest, straightforward plan to fix Minnesota's aging and under-funded transportation system. If passed by the Legislature, Governor Dayton's transportation proposal would provide up to $75 million over the next ten years for key road and bridge improvements in Rochester and Olmsted County. The Governor's plan would make needed improvements to Highway 52 and Highway 14, repair or replace three bridges in Olmsted County, provide needed investment in Greater Minnesota transit systems, and provide area cities, counties, and townships a total $4.2 million in additional annual funding for the next ten years to use on their own priority local road and bridge improvement projects.
There are nearly 40,000 people employed in Rochester who live within the city limits, and more than 45,000 workers who /governor/assets/Rochester_Worker_Residence.pdf_tcm1055-92410.pdfcommute to Rochester each day from as far away as St. Paul and Minneapolis. Governor Dayton's proposal would preserve and modernize nearly 50 miles of road in Olmsted County, including improvements along Highways 52, 14 and 63, and repair and replace nine bridges along the Highway 52 corridor (three of which are in Olmsted County) - helping reduce delays and improve safety for residents, and commuters.
"Each year, more than 2 million people travel along Minnesota's roads, bridges, and transit networks to visit Rochester," said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. "The plan that Governor Dayton and I are proposing would provide the resources necessary to build a modern transportation system - driving continued business and job growth, and enhancing the quality of life enjoyed by all Minnesotans."
Governor Dayton's proposal would also fund the expansion of Highway 14 to four lanes and connect Rochester to key regional trade centers like New Ulm, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna and Winona. The Governor's plan would repair or replace six bridges and nearly 40 additional miles of pavement along Highway 14. Without additional funds provided by the Governor's proposal, these Highway 14 improvements would not likely be scheduled to begin anytime in the next 20 years. If the Governor's proposal becomes law, construction could begin on these projects within the next 3 to 6 years.
"After decades of decline, the Governor's transportation proposal would make needed safety and mobility improvements in Rochester and Olmsted County," said Commissioner Zelle. "The Governor's proposal would help reduce travel times for motorists, improve safety, and build a more modern transportation system that would meet the needs of this region."
Area State Road and Bridge Projects
The Governor's proposal would invest up to $75 million in these 8 state road and bridge improvement projects in Olmsted County over the next ten years:
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County
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Project type
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Highway
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Project location
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Olmsted
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Bridge
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41st Street NW
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41st Street NW over US Highway 52 in City of Rochester
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Olmsted
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Bridge
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US Highway 52
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US Highway 52 over Township Road 168 in Olmsted County - northbound
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Olmsted
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Bridge
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US Highway 52
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US Highway 52 over Township Road 168 in Olmsted County - southbound
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Olmsted
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Road
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US Highway 14
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7 miles from County Highway 36 to County Highway 19
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Olmsted
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Road
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US Highway 52
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12 miles from Chatfield to I-90
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Olmsted
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Road
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US Highway 52
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2 miles from 85th St to County Highway 12/112
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Olmsted, Goodhue
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Road
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US Highway 52
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13 miles from County Highway 12/112 to County Highway 68
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Olmsted, Wabasha
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Road
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US Highway 63
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13 miles from County Road 14 to Zumbro Falls
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More Funding for Olmsted County and Rochester
Local road improvement projects, funded with help from the state but chosen by local governments, would also receive funding from Governor Dayton's proposal. Over 40 percent of the new revenues raised in the Governor's proposal ($2.356 billion) would be directed to cities, counties, and townships, giving local leaders the resources and flexibility to repair and replace roads and bridges statewide. These new investments would add hundreds of additional road and bridge improvements in communities across Minnesota. The Governor's proposal would invest a total $4.2 million per year in these area cities and counties.
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Local Government
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New Funding
(Annual, estimated in 2019)
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Olmsted County
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$2.6 million
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Rochester
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$1.6 million
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Building on Recent Investments in Highway 52 and Highway 14
The Governor's proposed investments outlined today would supplement recent improvements made over the last decade, including the expansion of Highway 52 from four to six lanes between 85th Street NW to south of Highway 63, and the reconstruction of 24 bridges along the corridor.
During the 2013 and 2014 legislative sessions, Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature invested $331 million in the state's
Corridors of Commerce initiative, which funds projects that strengthen the state's transportation system by adding capacity, reducing congestion, and improving the movement of freight and commerce across Minnesota.
Overall, Governor Dayton has already invested up to $75 million in Corridors of Commerce funding to targeted improvements along the Highway 14 corridor in the last two years. Those projects, which are already underway, include: expanding Highway 14 to four lanes in Steele County, between Mankato and Nicollet and creating the Nicollet Bypass.
About Governor Dayton's Transportation Proposal
Governor Dayton has proposed a straightforward, honest solution to fix Minnesota's aging transportation systems. The Governor's plan would invest $6 billion over the next ten years to address the state's highway funding deficit, invest $2.356 billion in local government transportation projects, and provide $2.92 billion for Metro and Greater Minnesota transit systems.
Without these new investments, road and bridge conditions across Minnesota will only continue to get worse. If the state does nothing, over the next ten years: the number of road miles in poor condition will increase by 75 percent; an estimated 640 bridges (1 in 5 bridges statewide) will deteriorate into poor condition; and nearly 40 percent of all state roadways will surpass their useful life.
To learn more about Governor Dayton's proposal, click on the links below:
/governor/assets/transportation_county_projects_fact_sheet_tcm1055-114706.pdfList of Projects - Review the list of projects - released today by the Governor and MnDOT - that would be completed over the next ten years if the Governor's transportation proposal is passed
News Release - Read the news release from the Governor's transportation proposal announcement
/governor/assets/transportation_plan_fact_sheet_tcm1055-114708.pdfHow it Works - Read about how the plan would be funded
/governor/assets/transportation_overview_fact_sheet_tcm1055-114700.pdfFact Sheet - Get all the facts on the challenges facing our transportation system, and how the Governor's proposed investments would address those challenges
/governor/assets/transportation_investments_snapshot_tcm1055-114710.pdfLocal Funding Increases - Learn how much funding each city and county would receive under the Governor's transportation proposal
/governor/assets/transportation_maps_tcm1055-114711.pdfMaps - Take a look at the transportation projects that would be funded, by region
