Legislative Priorities

2023 Legislative Priorities

The Alliance supports funding, building, operating and maintaining a robust multimodal transportation system along the I-35W corridor between Elko New Market and downtown Minneapolis that reduces congestion, improves safety, and enables 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, it may undertake advocacy related to other north and south arterials including Hwy 169 and Hwy 77/Cedar Avenue, and east and west connectors, including I-494, Hwy 62, and Hwy 13.

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

As a multi-jurisdictional Joint Powers Board, the members of the Alliance will pursue the following outcomes during the 2023 legislative session:

Highway Funding

Support additional transportation revenues to meet the I-35W traffic-shed related needs identified in MnDOT’s 10-Year Capital Highway Investment Plan and the Metropolitan Council’s 2040 Transportation Policy Plan.

Strategies for Highways:

  • Support increased revenues and bonding authority for construction of priority improvements
  • Provide bonding authority for the Local Road Improvement Program
  • Support funding for programs such as Corridors of Commerce and Transportation for Economic Development

Priorities for Highways include:

  • I-494 from Hwy 169 to Airport, Phase 2 (including I-494/I-35W Interchange Phase 2)
  • I-35 mobility and safety improvements from CSAH 42 to CSAH 50
  • Modernization of the I-35 & CSAH 70 interchange
  • Mobility and safety improvements on Hwy 169 from TH 13 to I-494 
  • Mobility and safety improvements on Hwy 77 from County Road 38 to I-494
  • Hwy 13 mobility and safety improvements between Hwy 169 and Nicollet Ave

Transit Operating and Capital Funding

Support adequate capital and operating funding for transit systems to achieve the goals of the regional 2040 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP).

Strategies for Transit:

  • Support funding, including adequate general fund appropriations, to implement and operate the regional transit system, including LRT, BRT, express and regular route services
  • Encourage and support the Metropolitan Council to use its regional levy authority to the full extent authorized by the Legislature
  • Oppose policies or legislation that restrict the study of potential transit corridors in the Twin Cities region

Priorities for Transit include:

  • Provide state funding for all BRT operations, including the METRO Orange Line, treating all bus transitway operating costs the same
  • Extend METRO Orange Line BRT service and station development to CSAH 42 in coordination with redevelopment of the Burnsville Center area