The Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee held a field hearing on Tuesday, March 10 in Minneapolis, taking public testimony on the transportation needs for the metro area. The hearing was the last in a series of public hearings the Committee has hosted across the state to hear from Minnesotans on the future of the state’s transportation network.
The core cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and inner ring suburbs will face further strain on their transportation networks in the next 15 years. The metro area is projected to grow by approximately 900,000 people by 2040. The pressure of this growth will require a multi-modal transportation network that improves and maintains roads and bridges while expanding transit service and other available options.
Minneapolis, and the state as a whole, is competing with cities like Denver and Seattle for the highly talented workforce we need to succeed. It’s critical that people have transit options like bus, streetcar, and light rail services that meet these demands, and that our bikers and pedestrians feel safe sharing the road. It is critical for the quality of life for our community, the economic strength of our businesses, and for the equity and access for every person in our region, that we deliver a strong transportation network now and for generations to come.
