Mankato Free Press, July 27, 2008

Area residents concerned about the state of area highways are being encouraged to attend Monday’s public hearing on the state transportation department’s 20-year construction plan.

“The Monday meeting is critically important,” said state Rep. Terry Morrow, a member of the House Transportation Committee.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation plan focuses on preservation and reconstruction of existing highways and bridges. That would potentially result in long postponements in many expansion projects — such as plans to add lanes and interchanges on Highway 14 from Mankato to New Ulm and make improvements on Highway 169 from Mankato to Jordan, according to critics of the plan.

“MnDOT is clearly trying to avoid expansion projects, instead trying to preserve what they have,” Morrow said. “I understand that. I get it.”

But Morrow said some planned expansions are vital to the safety of drivers and to the economic growth in the region, the Highway 14 expansion being a case in point.

“If you look at safety, Highway 14 is a grim picture,” he said.

The plan’s release comes five months after lawmakers passed a $6.6 billion transportation funding bill after years of gridlock on the issue. While $600 million is reserved for bridge work, and other funds are reserved for transit, MnDOT has flexibility on how to spend much of money, Morrow said.

He believes the department’s focus on preservation comes from a critical report by the Office of the Legislative Auditor that suggested MnDOT was failing to maintain existing highways in favor of new construction. Morrow pointed out that the auditor’s suggested focus on preservation came before the new transportation bill was approved.

MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel and other top department officials will be at the meeting to present the plan and listen to comments from city and county officials, business leaders and area residents.

MnDOT spokeswoman Rebecca Arndt also encouraged attendance while asking people to be willing to hear the department’s rationale for the plan.

Arndt emphasized the plan is not final and changes are possible based on comments made at hearings around the state.

“The most important thing is it’s not over, and come to the meeting,” Arndt said.

The meeting begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Best Western motel off of Highway 169 in North Mankato and is expected to last until 4 p.m.