BAXTER - U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan will host a wide ranging public forum to explore the Brainerd lakes area's fast-growing highway and transportation needs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, at Baxter City Hall.
Nolan, the only member of Minnesota's Congressional delegation serving on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, is inviting officials from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), highway advocates, county engineers, business and Labor representatives and citizens to present their best ideas for improving East-Central Minnesota's infrastructure as Congress prepares to authorize and fund major transportation legislation.
"I'm coming to Baxter and the Brainerd lakes area to hear the best ideas from people of all walks of life to improve and fund our transportation system," Nolan said in a news release. "As anyone who travels through our region can attest, our highways are falling into disrepair faster than we can fix them, traffic congestion is getting worse and public transportation is lagging behind other parts of our nation in capacity and efficiency."
"Across Minnesota, there are some 1,200 structurally deficient bridges, several hundred of which are located in our region. The Federal Highway Trust Fund is running out of money, and as Gov. Dayton has noted, the condition of Minnesota's roads put us in the bottom third nationally," Nolan said. "Between our work in Congress and the work of the Legislature, we have a significant opportunity to make progress this year, and I want to be sure we are working together, doing our best to make our roads and bridges as strong and safe as we possibly can."
Space at Baxter City Hall is limited, so participants are encouraged to come early. Time will be reserved for members of the public to comment.
