The Central Corridor transit line received the requested $5.25 million for preliminary engineering and Holman Field received $1 million for floodwall construction. The latter would leverage at least an additional $20 million in other governmental funding.
"They are crucial to developing a multi-modal transportation system in the region," says Rick Beeson, chairman of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and president of Park Midway Bank.
The planning money for the Central Corridor initiative, which would run trains or buses down University Avenue between the two downtowns, is expected to be matched by federal dollars. Local officials are advocating the extension of light rail service from the Hiawatha Line through the University of Minnesota to St. Paul's riverfront, a project that could cost an estimated $840 million. If the plans proceed, construction could start within four years.
Meanwhile, the $1 million earmarked for a major upgrade at the city's Downtown airport, a project pushed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Flooding over the last decade has plagued Holman Field. The Metropolitan Airports Commission has drawn up a $30-million plan for improvements at the airport, and that received $1 million in support earlier this year 3M Co., which has a flight center there.
Opponents are worried about the environmental impact of the project, including downstream flood and airport noise.
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