ST. PAUL, Minn – The final days of the 2017 Legislative Session were chaotic, hurried, and happened in the dead of night. But, as the session closed out legislators were able to pass a nearly $1 billion bonding bill which funds critical infrastructure projects across the state. On Tuesday this week, Governor Dayton signed the bill into law.
Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) has strongly advocated for several local bonding projects who were asking for state funds including the Champlin Mill Pond and the Hanson Boulevard rail grade crossing, and was the original chief author of both bills. After two years of fighting for the projects’ funding, he’s proud to announce the money is finally coming home.
“These two projects are both incredibly important to the people who live in our corner of the northwest metro. The Champlin Mill Pond project is already vastly improved – and now we have an additional $3.3 million to help create an ideal recreational spot for fishing, and families to enjoy. I also worked hard to secure the $14.1 million to greatly increase the safety at the Hanson Boulevard rail crossing in Coon Rapids. This has been a public safety issue for years as well as a significant transportation barrier. I’m glad we’ve got the money to move forward with building a rail grade crossing separation at this intersection. The people who travel along this corridor will be safer, and can travel with greater ease.
The bonding bill this year was the definition of a bipartisan bill, it passed in the Senate with near-unanimous support. As contentious as politics at the Capitol are sometimes, it’s good for Minnesota when we can all agree on a bonding bill which creates jobs and strengthens our local communities,” said Sen. Hoffman.
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