A heated debate about rural Minnesota highways in Mankato got new MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel on the hot seat, but it appears he, and MnDOT, have reacted in at least one small way to assuage the rancor and make some roads safer.
A new MnDOT plan for road funding priorities unveiled in July left many local and regional officials upset and angry about the plan that appeared to make dangerous outstate roads less of a priority than expanding suburban and metro highways to handle more traffic.
The plan put some long-awaited southern Minnesota projects, like Highway 60 and Highway 14, even further back on the priority list. North Mankato Mayor Gary Zellmer, also a leader with the Highway 14 lobbying group, was one of the most vocal critics, calling the plan unbelievable and unacceptable.
Safety of these rural roads were of major concern, and Zellmer wrote Sorel noting that 150 people have been killed on the roadway since the mid-1980s. Under the new plan, one of the most dangerous stretches between North Mankato and New Ulm wasn’t going to see funding for 20 years.
In his defense, Sorel was reading the new transportation law as requiring almost all new money be spent on bridges.
Things have changed a bit since then, and for the better on the issue of safety on those roads. Legislative leaders from southern Minnesota have been working with Sorel and MnDOT to modify they timeline on safety improvements. Rep. Terry Morrow, DFL-St. Peter, met with Sorel to suggest the changes and push for at least preliminary safety improvements.
In fact, on Sept. 4, MnDOT announced it would start looking at safety improvements to rural roads that go back and forth from two-lanes to four-lanes. An evaluation of Highway 60 that involved reviewing crash history, traffic volumes and interregional connections helped MnDOT design safety improvements for that roadway. Sorel vowed to do the same study with Highway 14 as well, and other rural Minnesota roads.
Even though design improvement and major changes may still take years, Sorel said immediate safety improvements like rumble strips, new lighting, “innovative signing” and educational “Safe Community Coalitions” can be implemented.
These measures make sense and don’t cost a lot of money. It’s one way the new commissioner appears to be coming up with ways to satisfy important constituencies and maximize MnDOT resources for safety.
Regarding attacks on Terry Morrow’s leadership, let’s see-a politician who 1) sits down with constituents regardless of political affiliation, educational background or influential connections (or lack thereof) 2) listens attentively, researches the issue, deliberates, then acts 3) thinks “big picture”, so grasps significant subtleties others can’t or won’t, …Hey, this is just my experience as a farmer, and a fan of rural America and the environment, what do I know? –well, my choice in November, for one– Terry Morrow.
Our State Representative, Terry Morrow, has done an outstanding job in his first term representing District 23A. Terry has been a great friend to nursing homes and has shown leadership in addressing our issues. His availability and support has been exceptional. If I have a concern, I know Terry is just a phone call away and will listen and work hard on our behalf. By actually spending a night in our facility as a “resident,” he learned first-hand why funding for nursing homes is so vital. His understanding of a complicated reimbursement system is commendable. Terry has shown leadership on many issues throughout the district such as transportation, bonding, education, farming, and health care. He has received awards from three groups in Greater Minnesota for his leadership in the legislature, including the “Outstanding First Term Legislator Award” from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. I thank Terry for his hard work and dedication in the first term and am happy to support him in his efforts for reelection.
Lori Bussler Winthrop Good Samaritan Society director
Many thanks to Representative Terry Morrow for his continuing hard work to make the roads and bridges throughout south central Minnesota safer. I read today that MnDOT is moving forward with safety improvements along Highway 14 between Mankato and New Ulm and that it plans to expand Highway 14, similar to the improvements along Highway 60. I know that Representative Morrow met with MnDOT’s Commissioner several times this summer, wrote a series of detailed letters, made numerous phone calls and maintained email correspondence throughout the summer to help bring about these Highway 14 improvements. Thank you, Terry, for doing a great job to keep all the roads in south central Minnesota safe!
Minnesota Department of Transportation
News Release
Date: October 2, 2008 Contact: Rebecca Arndt 507/304-6106
To Be Released: Immediately
Highway 14 safety improvements slated
MANKATO, Minn. - An on-going safety evaluation of Highway 14 west of Mankato has prompted the local Mn/DOT office to begin several safety improvements.
As early as this fall, motorists can expect to see:
● A flashing sign for westbound motorists that indicate a two-lane (two-way) road is ahead
● Two signs for eastbound traffic that indicate a freeway ahead
● Centerline rumble stripes
According, to Jim Swanson, Mankato district engineer, Mn/DOT is continuing to review other safety enhancements like radar speed displays and lighting at four paved county highway intersections.
“The improvements are in response to Highway 14 safety concerns expressed by area legislators, officials and motorists,” said Swanson.
Other safety evaluations are being completed in Minnesota in areas where highways drop from four to two lanes. Safety enhancements are currently underway on Highway 60 between Windom and St. James.
For more information, visit the Mn/DOT Web site at www.mndot.gov.
A meeting recently with MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel left me encouraged and positive about the future course of Minnesota’s transportation system. We agree on a number of key priorities and share a vision for a strong and vibrant statewide plan.
Setting priorities for transportation projects is essential. A recent MnDOT meeting in North Mankato presented a draft plan for 2012-2018 funding priorities. I joined many in the audience who expressed justified concern that the proposed priorities did not sufficiently address safety concerns surrounding Highways 14, 60, and other roads throughout Minnesota.
Following the meeting, I sat down and drafted a comprehensive response that was shared with the commissioner and legislative leaders. I offered to work with the commissioner and MnDOT to develop plans to address these and other concerns.
In the recent meeting, I found that Commissioner Sorel and MnDOT truly listened. Safety measures will be implemented in the very near future on Highways 60 and 14 and other Minnesota roads. Plans will be developed for longer-term solutions, including new construction that increases dangerous sections from two to four lanes.
Commissioner Sorel and I agree that setting funding priorities is critical to Minnesota’s long-term transportation planning. We both believe it is essential to allow greater flexibility in setting priorities as MnDOT balances road safety, bridge maintenance, road preservation, congestion relief, and other needs across the state. To this end, I repeated my offer to work with Commissioner Sorel and MnDOT as the 2012-2018 plan develops.
Working together to craft transportation laws must be part of this cooperative effort between the Legislature and MnDOT. For example, we should strongly consider refining the legislation passed this year that sought to ensure bridge repair and replacement. Commissioner Sorel has a legitimate concern that the law might be interpreted to require that all new transportation funding be spent on bridges.
I understand his point and the negative impact that this interpretation could have on road projects. Please be assured, though, that any revision would not detract from everyone’s goal of safety on Minnesota’s bridges.
Commissioner Sorel and I agree that Greater Minnesota will see road and bridge projects done that would not have been undertaken without the 2008 law. Bridge work in our area that would not have been done is now in the planning stages. Road work, including on Highways 60 and 14, that would have remained decades into the future is now being planned.
Commissioner Sorel and I discussed the claim that Minnesota’s transportation funding system is skewed toward the metro area. First, it is important to keep in mind that all of the gas tax is constitutionally dedicated to roads and bridges. It does not fund light rail or trails.
Commissioner Sorel and I discussed having MnDOT analyze the distribution of transportation funding. This study would offer closure to the question of equitable distribution. We also agreed that if an imbalance is detected, MnDOT and the Legislature should work cooperatively to fix it.
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