WILLMAR -- Members of the Minnesota House Transportation Finance Committee will be taking public testimony Monday in Willmar on regional transportation needs and funding issues.
The hearing will be held from 7-9 p.m. at the Health and Human Services Building.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation, county highway engineers, local elected officials, contractors and citizens are scheduled to provide testimony to the committee, according to Abbey Mahin, committee administrator.
Each individual will be given 2-5 minutes to present their testimony, she said.
The committee will use the information to help them make decisions during the session, said Mahin.
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She said about half of the 18-member committee is expected to be at the Willmar meeting.
Rep. Bernie Lieder, DFL-Crookston, chairman of the committee, will oversee the hearing.
"We want to hear local officials and residents about the needs in West Central Minnesota so we can put together a comprehensive transportation funding package that meets the needs of the entire state," said Lieder, in a press release.
"The I-35 W bridge collapse in Minneapolis is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to transportation issues in Minnesota," said Lieder.
MnDOT estimates an additional $2.4 billion is needed over the next 10 years to address unmet construction and maintenance needs, he said.
The committee will also be conducting hearings in Mankato and Anoka later this month.
