Local legislators approve new state transportation bill for area projects
Several area state legislators this week approved a $7.27 billion transportation package which will provide funding for local governments to conduct work on roads and bridges in District 16A. The funding includes $12 million for townships and $18 million in aid for cities with fewer than 5,000 residents. Estimates for combined funding small cities in District 16A are set to receive:
- Lac qui Parle: $139,702
- Lyon: $208,814
- Redwood: $223,572
- Yellow Medicine: $144,691
State Rep. Chris Swedzinski of Ghent stated, “It is good to see the finished product for this bill allows us to uphold roads and bridges as the priorities they are without raising taxes on Minnesotans at a time the state has a multi-billion-dollar surplus.”
Senator Gary Dahms of Redwood Falls stated, “The state spends millions of transportation dollars every year on things that are not permitted spending for the Highway User Trust Fund. Senate Republicans were committed to redirecting those dollars where they belong: on roads and bridges.”
The bill also provides $25 million to expand a section of U.S. Highway 212 in Carver County from two to four lanes, a project Swedzinski said will improve safety for people from southwestern Minnesota traveling to and from the metro area. The final version of the transportation package also removed all $1.6 billion in tax hikes passed by House Democrats in their transportation bill during the 2021 regular session.
