SF1255

Purpose

Provide funding to advance the Progress Parkway project in the city of Eveleth by appropriating money from bond proceeds to support planning, design, construction, and related work. The goal is to improve transportation connections and traffic flow in the area.

Main Provisions

• Subdivision 1 – Appropriation: An amount of 8,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund to the Commissioner of Transportation. The funds are for one or more grants to St. Louis County to cover:
  • predesign, design, engineering
  • environmental analysis and mitigation
  • land acquisition
  • construction and reconstruction
  • intersection improvements
  • road realignment and extension
  • scope includes extending from U.S. Highway 53 and St. Louis County State Aid Highway 142 to Trunk Highway 37 and Station 44 Road in Eveleth
• Subdivision 2 – Bond sale: The money will be raised by issuing bonds up to 8,000,000, to be sold in a manner allowed by state law (Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675) and the Minnesota Constitution (Article XI, sections 4 to 7). The sale and issuance are managed by the Commissioner of Management and Budget.

Financial Mechanism

• Funding source: bond proceeds in the state transportation fund
• Bonding authority: up to 8,000,000 in bonds
• Oversight: sales and management per state law and constitutional provisions
• Connection to existing funding: This appropriation is in addition to a similar appropriation made in Laws 2023, chapter 68, article 1, section 17, subdivision 17

Scope and Project Location

• Project name: Progress Parkway
• Location: Eveleth, Minnesota
• Connecting roads involved: U.S. Highway 53, St. Louis County State Aid Highway 142, Trunk Highway 37, and Station 44 Road
• Activities covered: planning (predesign), design, engineering, environmental work, land acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and road realignment/extension to improve intersections and overall roadway configuration

Significance and Impact

• Purpose is to advance transportation infrastructure in Eveleth by funding a comprehensive set of activities from planning through construction.
• Uses bonding to finance a major local infrastructure project, potentially accelerating improvement of traffic flow and access in the area.

Next Steps / Implementation

• Administrative actions to implement the grant to St. Louis County
• Execution of environmental analyses and predesign work, followed by design, land acquisition, and construction
• Sale and issuance of bonds up to the authorized amount to fund the project

Relevant Terms Progress Parkway; Eveleth; St. Louis County; U.S. Highway 53; St. Louis County State Aid Highway 142; Trunk Highway 37; Station 44 Road; predesign; design; engineering; environmental analysis; mitigation; land acquisition; construction; reconstruction; intersection improvements; road realignment; road extension; bond proceeds; state transportation fund; Minnesota Statutes 174.50; Laws 2023 chapter 68 article 1 section 17 subdivision 17; bond sale; Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675; Minnesota Constitution Article XI.