House OKs use of supplemental federal highway funds

House lawmakers passed a measure 130-0 Tuesday that would appropriate an additional $105 million in federal funding to the Department of Transportation for road construction this year.

The new allocation in HF837, as amended, and sponsored by Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska), reflects increased federal highway funds available to the state through the FAST Act.

“This $105 million will get a few projects rolling and as soon as possible. We want our contractors out there working,” Torkelson said.

The bill now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson) is the sponsor.

Torkelson withdrew an amendment to the bill that would have made the allocation to MnDOT contingent upon the department’s submission of unredacted communications related to a 2016 request for the federal funds to the Legislature.

WATCH Tuesday's House Floor session

Heavily-redacted versions of those communications and materials were previously provided to the Legislature, a point of contention between MnDOT officials and Torkelson, chair of the House Transportation Finance Committee, earlier this session. He said on the House Floor that MnDOT provided the requested documents last week.

Torkelson and Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls) said it’s critical that the state release the funds to MnDOT early this spring so the money can be put to use on road work across Minnesota.

“It’s urgent we get this money out the door as soon as possible so the projects — over 20 projects across the state — can get started this summer,” Hornstein said.