On Saturday, Minnesota Senate Republicans announced a $1.4 billion bonding bill, which focuses on key infrastructure needs, jobs, and economic growth across Minnesota. The bill includes $25.6 million for a new interchange at U.S. Highway 14 and County Road 104 in Olmsted County, $11.4 million for the Rochester International Airport, $24.027 million for wastewater infrastructure in the City of Oronoco, and $250,000 for a memorial to the legacy of William James Mayo and Charles Horace Mayo on the State Capitol grounds. The legislation also includes $8 million for township roads.

“We worked hard to put together a bill that makes strong investments in critical infrastructure and asset preservation across the State of Minnesota. Our proposal includes several key initiatives for southeastern Minnesota that make long-term investments in our local economies. This bill will bring jobs and economic growth to our area and beyond,” said Senator David Senjem (R-Rochester), chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee. “This is a strategic public investment to spur development in communities in all areas of our state. It is focused on infrastructure projects with statewide significance, transportation, clean water, and higher education.”

The Senate’s proposed $1.4 billion bonding bill includes $998 million in general obligation bonds – as well as an additional $400 million in trunk highway bonds – for critical infrastructure, state assets, roads and bridges, airports, and freight rail. The bill finances a total of $688 million in transportation projects, $203 million in water treatment and infrastructure grants for access to clean water, and $105 million in economic development grants. Finally, the bill includes $170 million for the maintenance of publicly owned buildings and learning environments at the University of Minnesota and campuses of the Minnesota State system.

Projects are eligible for bonding if they are publicly owned and designated as infrastructure and approximately $5.5 billion in capital requests were submitted this year. A list of projects and totals included in the bill is available here.

Senator David Senjem, of Rochester, represents Dodge and Olmsted counties in the Minnesota Senate. He currently serves as chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee and is a former majority leader and minority leader.