DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Accept Grant Funds From 2025 Minnesota Highway Freight Program And Execute Grant Agreement For County State Aid Highway 50 And Interstate 35 Interchange, County Project 50-33
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize acceptance of State Funds from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) 2025 Minnesota Highway Freight Program (MHFP) and execution of a grant agreement for County Project (CP) 50-33.
SUMMARY
The Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) invested in the National Highway Freight Program, which funds the MHFP. The MHFP is a competitive grant program that provides funds for construction projects providing measurable freight transportation benefits across modes, including projects that connect highways, railroads, ports, waterways, and airports.
To provide a safe and efficient transportation system, staff proceeded with work on CP 50-33 which includes the reconstruction of the bridges and the interchange at Interstate 35 and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 50/CSAH 5 to replace the existing deficient interchange and coordinate with strategic capacity needs on I-35 (Attachment: Project Location Map). The project is included in the adopted 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Staff has periodically applied for and received funding from multiple sources to support the design and construction of the project. Construction is now estimated at $66 million, not including costs for right of way. Anticipated construction funding now includes $40.8 million from the 2025 legislative session trunk highway appropriation (letter from the MnDOT Commissioner dated June 9, 2025). This leaves an estimated funding gap of $25.2 million for CP 50-33 construction costs.
The County Board authorized staff to submit a funding application for CP 50-33, requesting $10 million from the MHFP grant program by Resolution No. 25-405 (August 26, 2025). The application was du...
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