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Klobuchar Announces Minnesota to Receive Over $94 Million in Transportation Funds from Economic Recovery Act

Klobuchar says funds will create jobs, improve Minnesota's mass transit

March 5, 2009

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that Minnesota will receive more than  $94 million in federal funding for Minnesota  transportation projects as part of the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The funds will go towards vital transit projects in both rural and urban areas of Minnesota, and create jobs while modernizing Minnesota’s transportation system.

“Creating a 21st Century transportation system meets real needs, creates real jobs and delivers a real boost to the economy,” Klobuchar said.  “Investing in our infrastructure will not only jump-start our economy in the short-term, but fuel local economies to compete in the long-term.”

The funding was disbursed today by the Obama Administration and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).  The Metropolitan Council will receive $75 million for transit projects in the Twin Cities Metro area.  The FTA also disbursed over $19 million to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for rural transit projects throughout the state.

Emphasizing the need for job creation, Senator Klobuchar worked to provide robust transportation funding during consideration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The White House estimates that the bill will create 66,000 jobs in Minnesota and a recent analysis of the recovery bill by Moody’s Economy.com concluded that the economic recovery bill could create as many as 91,000 jobs in Minnesota by 2010.

In addition to the transit funds announced today, last week, Senator Klobuchar announced that over $107 million in federal funds included in the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, which is currently being considered by the Senate.  The funds would go towards completing additional transportation and mass transit projects, including the NorthStar Commuter Rail Line and the Central Corridor Light Rail Line.


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