ST. PAUL – Legislation sponsored by State Representative Tony Jurgens (R-Cottage Grove) requiring MnDOT to maintain a 35 mile per hour speed limit on Highway 316 from Highway 61 to just north of Tuttle Drive has been approved by the full Minnesota House.
Jurgens’ bill was included as part of a comprehensive transportation funding proposal that was passed on March 31.
“This is great news and I’m pleased by the strong support this bill has received not only on the House floor but throughout the House committee process,” Jurgens said. “This is a major step forward on a positive resolution.”
MnDOT recently announced it planned to raise the speed limit on the stretch of Highway 316 in the City of Hastings this spring from 35 to 40 miles an hour. But after hearing about numerous safety concerns from residents living in the area, Rep. Jurgens authored legislation that prevents MnDOT from making the change and required the department to conduct a safety study in that area and report its findings and recommendations to the legislature.
Despite the positive news, Jurgens said his work on the bill continues. He is pushing for the Highway 316 proposal to be approved on a stand-alone basis by the Minnesota House, and also continues to work with MnDOT in hopes of reaching an agreement that would eliminate the need for legislative action.
“I have faith that we will be able to work out a compromise that will make both the neighborhood and MnDOT happy, and continue my efforts to make this happen,” Jurgens said. “To me, this is and always has been an issue about safety.”
Jurgens said his talks with MnDOT are ongoing. Meanwhile, the omnibus transportation finance proposal that includes Jurgens’ Highway 316 language now heads to the Minnesota Senate for debate.