CONGRESSWOMAN ANGIE CRAIG SECURES SECOND DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES IN KEY SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL

Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced key Second District transportation priorities included in the newly released Investing in aNew Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST) Act.

As this bill was being crafted, Rep. Craig worked with representatives from state and local government, the business community, organized labor and other organizations with an interest in transportation funding across the Second District to be sure their priorities are what drove this legislation forward. The Committee will consider the INVEST in America Act at a Committee markup scheduled for Wednesday, June 17th. The current surface transportation authorization expires September 30th.

"I came to Congress to work on issues facing everyday Americans, like fixing our Nation's crumbling infrastructure by making it easier for communities in my district to carry out transformational projects," said Rep. Craig. "As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I'm proud to help shape the roadmap we need to put people back to work on our infrastructure needs like adding a lane and interchange on I-35 in Lakeville to ease traffic, improving Highway 52 in Goodhue County and completing outstanding projects on Highway 13 that will improve freight access. These projects, among many others, will help reduce congestion, increase safety and are the infrastructure projects of our future that will benefit from the INVEST in America Act. These projects unite needs across America and I urge all of my colleagues to act with the urgency the folks in their districts experience every day."

"Highway 52 is critically important for those of us living in Zumbrota and Goodhue County. We have wanted help in addressing this situation for years. I am grateful that Rep. Craig has identified this project as one that would be a significant beneficiary of the INVEST in America Act and the work it will provide for," said Bradley Drenckhahn, Mayor of Zumbrota.

"I-35W is a crucial corridor for Lakeville residents, Minnesotans, and interstate commerce. The addition of an extra lane would help ease congestion and make goods and services travel more efficiently. I'm pleased that the INVEST in America Act would increase funding for vital projects like this one," said Dakota County Commissioner Liz Workman, Chair of the I-35-W Solutions Alliance

"The Ports of Savage is a crucial freight corridor and is not only essential to our community but all of Minnesota. I am pleased that the INVEST in America Act would provide funding programs so we could complete this project and continue to progress as a state," said Janet Williams, Mayor of Savage.

Here are the Second District priorities that could be eligible for funding in the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST) Act:

• Active transportation projects like the Dakota County Veterans Memorial Greenway. The INVEST in America Act creates an Active Transportation Connectivity Grant Program to support infrastructure investment in connected active transportation networks for walking and bicycling. The funding would support the development of active transportation networks such as the Veterans Memorial Greenway, which will connect Lebanon Hills and the Mississippi River Greenway through Inver Grove Heights and Eagan.
• Adding a lane and interchange on Interstate 35 in Lakeville to ease traffic. The INVEST in America Act would help local governments such as Dakota County access new sources of funding to complete key community projects that are urgently needed but currently lack the funding to complete. The bill's increase in Federal-aid highway funding and the establishment of the Community Transportation Investment Grants program will help tackle this backlog.
• Improving Highway 52 in Goodhue County to increase safety. Increased funding levels provided by the INVEST in America Act could be used to help cover the costs of planned work between Cannon Falls and Zumbrota and help expedite the planning and conversion of the highway into a full freeway.
• Completing outstanding projects on Trunk Highway 13 to increase safety. The INVEST in America Act recognizes the importance of freight and contains devoted funding for multimodal transportation projects such as those under development on Highway 13 between Burnsville and Savage.
• Increasing flexibility and directing funding for rural communities. The INVEST in America Act would provide:

1. $49 billion over five years in dedicated local transportation funding.

2. $600 million per year through the Community Transportation Grant Program for projects that improve safety and make necessary improvements, with a minimum of 25% of those funds set aside for rural communities

3. Establish the Rebuild Rural Grant program focused on infrastructure in rural communities.

4. Expand the High Risk Rural Roads Program and increase investments for safe rural roads without depleting other funding resources.

• Creating a standalone bridge repair program. The bill creates a new minimum bridge investment requirement that will help states keep their bridges safe.
• Encouraging Transportation and Infrastructure Careers. The bill examines current efforts and will look for ways to encourage diverse applicants to fill in-demand transportation career opportunities across Minnesota's Second Congressional District.
• Increase Available Safe Truck Parking. Recognizing that the trucking industry faces a major truck parking shortage, the bill incorporates provisions of Rep. Craig's Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act and establishes a one-time $250 million grant program to address the shortage of parking for commercial motor vehicles to improve the safety of commercial motor vehicle drivers.