Transportation Advisory Board selected projects for federal funding
ST. PAUL – Feb. 20, 2013 – The Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) is receiving public comment on the draft amendment to the 2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The proposed amendment includes 74 new projects, using $159 million in funding, chosen through the TAB’s regional solicitation process for construction in years 2015-16.
The regional solicitation process includes projects from several federal funding programs: the Surface Transportation Program (STP), Bridge Improvement and Replacement (BIR), Transportation Enhancements (TE), and Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ). The draft amendment also includes allocations for the federal Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Safety Improvement Program, administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).
Notable projects in the draft amendment include:
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$20.5 million for construction of an interchange at Highway 101 and County Highway 144 in Rogers, with trail and sidewalk improvements.
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$11.4 million for a pedestrian/bicycle trail between Tracy and France avenues in Edina.
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$11.4 million to reconstruct county highway 116 in Andover and Ham Lake into a four-lane road, with a separated bike/pedestrian feature and improved rail crossing.
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$11.2 million to reconstruct county highway 81 in Brooklyn Park into a multi-lane highway with median and multi-use trail.
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$10 million to extend the eastern end of Pierce Butler Route in St. Paul, with bike lanes and sidewalks.
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$9.3 million to rehabilitate the 10th Ave. S.E. bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.
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$9.1 million for reconstruction of Hennepin/Lyndale Avenue near Dunwoody Blvd., I-94, and Loring Park in Minneapolis, with pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
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$8.4 million for reconstruction of Scott County highway 17 into a four-lane highway with a multi-use trail between county highways 78 and 42.
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$8.1 million to reconstruct county highway 34/Normandale Blvd., in Bloomington into a four-lane highway with multi-use trails.
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$8.8 million for limited stop transit service on Chicago and Portland avenues in Minneapolis and Richfield, and American Blvd. in Bloomington.
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$7.5 million for limited stop transit service in St. Paul and Maplewood.
Details about the TIP amendment, including the full list of projects (pdf).
Comments
The public comment period on the draft amendment is open through 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 13. To comment, the public may:
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Write to Metropolitan Council, Public Information at 390 Robert St. N., St. Paul, MN 55101
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Email to Metropolitan Council, Public Information at public.info@metc.state.mn.us
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Record a comment on the Public Comment Line at 651.602.1500 (TTY 651.291.0904)
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Fax to Metropolitan Council, Public Information at 651.602.1464.
The public may also attend either committee meeting below, where the draft amendment will also be discussed:
The Transportation Advisory Board will consider the draft amendment at its March 20 meeting. The Metropolitan Council will consider the TAB’s action at a future meeting.
The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Council runs the regional bus and light rail system and Northstar commuter rail, collects and treats wastewater, coordinates regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income families. The Council board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.