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Brainerd Lakes,Wadena, and Staples Highway Projects Meeting <br /> September 16, 2008 at Cragun's Resort, 9 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. <br /> See separate list of attendees. Minutes by Lisa Paxton,Brainerd Lakes Chamber <br /> 1. Status of construction projects—Jim Povich <br /> a. District 3 manages 2000 miles of highway <br /> b. 10 years ago expected funds to be available to build out projects within 2 <br /> years <br /> c. District 3 most aggressive at planning <br /> i. More than a dozen highway corridors that warrant expansion <br /> ii. Planned to prioritize corridors and bite off top third of these <br /> projects,moving them through the environmental review process <br /> anticipating funding coming their way <br /> iii. They have about$700mm worth of expansion projects either <br /> through the environmental project completely or nearing <br /> completion in environmental process. <br /> iv. They base priorities on traffic fatalities and volume <br /> v. Highway 23 east of Foley is top priority($30mm); highway <br /> between Buffalo and Monticello is second priority($30mm);then <br /> Highway 371 ($100mm project in total) <br /> vi. Projects funded with federal and state funds that come to Mn/DOT <br /> and distributed to eight Mn/DOT districts based on targeted <br /> formula. District 3 receives $60mm a year to construct projects and <br /> buy ROW. Most of the money goes to preservation. About <br /> $1Omm/year can go to the expansion projects. <br /> vii. State legislature has not completed a long term transportation plan <br /> in 20 years. Last year was the first year they tried to plan long <br /> term. Half of money going to cities, townships, counties—other <br /> half to Mn/DOT. Increased funding isn't enough to maintain roads <br /> and bridges. Interpretation is that funds should go to bad bridges <br /> and bad pavement by State legislature. District 3 only received <br /> $40mm out of that bill—District 6 by Rochester received$500mm. <br /> viii. Crow Wing County—Highway 371 -prefers bridge on County <br /> Road 11 and County portion is at least a couple of million$. Wants <br /> that road built as soon as possible because of traffic safety issues <br /> and pressure put on local—county road systems. <br /> d. Other funding sources: <br /> i. Congressmen can earmark(high priority projects) funding for <br /> proj ects. <br /> ii. Typically when the earmarks are done, they get a portion of the <br /> project—not the entire need. <br /> iii. Mn/DOT has asked for $80mm earmarked on the Highway 371 <br /> proj ect. <br /> e. Wadena project—expansion of four lane through Wadena <br /> i. Split between District 3 and District 4—county line splits them <br /> ii. Project has been planned since 1950s <br />