Legislative Priorities

2025 Legislative Agenda

As a multi-jurisdictional Joint Powers Board, the members of the Alliance will pursue the following outcomes during the upcoming legislative session:

The Alliance supports funding of the planning, designing, constructing, operation, and maintenance of a robust multimodal transportation system along the I-35W corridor between Elko New Market and downtown Minneapolis. The I-35W corridor’s transportation system should reduce congestion, improve safety, and enable the metropolitan area and the state of Minnesota to better compete economically with other areas of the United States and the world.

While the Alliance principally focuses on I-35W, it also recognizes the impact that changes to the wider transportation system may have on I-35W. Accordingly, the Alliance may support other north and south arterials including Hwy 169 and Hwy 77/Cedar Avenue. East and west connectors of Alliance support include I-494, Hwy 62 (Crosstown), Hwy 13, and a future connector in Dakota and Scott Counties.

35W Solutions Alliance Goal
To facilitate the movement of people and goods in the I-35W corridor and surrounding transportation system.

Highway Funding

Support additional transportation revenues to meet needs related to the I-35W traffic-shed, identified in MnDOT’s 10-Year Capital Highway Investment Plan and the Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Policy Plan.

Strategies for Highways:

  • Support increased transportation revenues to meet needs related to the I-35W traffic-shed.
  • Provide additional revenues and bonding funds for the Local Road Improvement Program.
  • Support funding for programs for Economic Development.

Priorities for Highways include:

  • I-35W and Cliff Road Ramp Safety and Operational Improvements
  • I-35 and CSAH 2 Interchange Reconstruction
  • I-35W and 98th Street Interchange Improvements
  • I-35 and CSAH 50/5 Interchange Reconstruction
  • TH 13 Conversion to Grade Separated Freeway – Quentin Avenue to Nicollet Avenue

Transit Operating and Capital Funding

Support adequate capital and operating funding for transit systems to achieve the goals of the regional Transportation Policy Plan (TPP).

Strategies for Transit:

  • Support preservation of existing funding streams for capital and operating expenses for transit systems to achieve the goals of the regional Transportation Policy Plan (TPP).
  • Support increased funding and adequate appropriations to implement and operate the regional transit system, including LRT, BRT, EZPass, microtransit, & regular route service.
  • Encourage and support the Metropolitan Council to use its regional levy authority to the full extent authorized by the Legislature.
  • Oppose policies restricting the study of potential transit corridors in the Twin Cities region.
  • Support full scoping of all Bus Rapid Transit capital projects to align and collaborate with local governments and be transparent to all funding partners regarding the full cost to implement projects along local corridors.
  • Provide adequate funding for expansion of the arterial Bus Rapid Transit system, particularly lines that parallel I-35W (E Line, future Nicollet, Penn, or Lyndale corridors).
  • Extend METRO Orange Line BRT service and station development to CSAH 42 in coordination with redevelopment of the Burnsville Center area.

Priorities for Transit include:

  • I-35W/Orange Line Parallel Bike Route
  • 73rd Street Pedestrian Bridge Reconstruction
  • Orange Line Extension along I-35W to CSAH 42/Burnsville Center
  • Orange Line Park and Ride at Knox Avenue and 76th Street Station (Best Buy)
  • BRT Line along Lyndale Avenue/Penn Avenue
  • BRT Line along Nicollet Avenue