Feds deliver on promised money to help traffic flow

Peters and Pawlenty
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters appeared in Minnesota Thursday to confirm a federal grant of $133 million to the state to east traffic congestion on I-35W. Gov. Tim Pawlenty stands behind her.
MPR Photo/Tim Pugmire

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters was in Bloomington to make what her office billed as a major funding announcement.

But Peters essentially re-announced last summer's news that Minnesota is getting more than $133 million through a federal Urban Partnership Agreement program, to reduce congestion along Interstate 35W.

Peters say the money will help the state improve traffic flow between downtown Minneapolis and the southern suburbs with 26 new express service buses.

"With gas costing what it does today, any time you can make it easier to use an efficient transit system you're not just cutting traffic, you're saving families real money, and you're improving the environment while you're doing it," said Peters.

The I-35W project will also add special toll lanes that use the MnPASS system currently in place on I-394.

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