Minnesota Department Of Transportation Seeks Your Input For Future Projects; Corridors Of Commerce Program Boosts The Economy Through Streamlined Transportation

The Minnesota Department of Transportation wants to hear from you!  Their Corridors of Commerce program uses state funding to make improvements to routes that help support economic growth by improving movement and reducing barriers.

The 2014 legislation makes available up to $25 million in 2015. The primary intent of this funding is to prepare eligible projects for future years should additional funding be made available.

"Transportation investment is key to our state’s economy,” said MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle. “The work we do with this funding spurs economic growth in the near term through construction jobs and, in the long run, creates a commerce-friendly network of corridors that we can rely on every day to move goods and people efficiently across our state.”

The 2015 funding can be used for right of way acquisition, environmental study work and preliminary engineering, as well as other project costs. MNDOT will collect project recommendations during the next two weeks and will announce the selected projects in October.

Since 2013, the Legislature has provided $331.5 million in Corridors of Commerce funding for projects statewide. The first program projects started this year and include:

• Lane addition on Interstate 94 from Highway 101 to Highway 241 near St. Michael
• Expansion of Highway 14 to four lanes from Highway 218 to County Road 43 near Owatonna
• Passing lane additions on various sections of Highway 2 and Highway 34 in northwestern Minnesota

 “We are working hard to make our transportation system more effective and efficient,” Zelle said. “A good transportation network serves the economy well and improves the quality of life for all of us.”

To learn more about the Corridors of Commerce program or to make your voice heard, click here.