Hanegraaf Testifies At Senate Transportation Committee

On February 24, 2025, Columbus Mayor Ron Hanegraaf provided testimony at the MN Senate Transportation Committee in support of Senator Kreun's bill SF 1847, a $762,000 appropriation for improvements to Hornsby St. NE. The City of Columbus is requesting $762,000 for the North Hornsby Street Road Improvement Project.

In 2023, the City of Forest Lake obtained $4.5 million from the bonding bill to reconstruct Eureka Avenue immediately north of Hornsby Street. This project is scheduled in 2024, ahead of a major reconstruction of Highway 97 east of Hornsby Street and will serve as a reliever to traffic in the area during reconstruction of Highway 97.

The Hornsby Street Improvement Project will reconstruct approximately 1,200 feet of Hornsby Street. The existing Hornsby Street segment is deficient in multiple ways. The existing rural section is narrow, lacks curbs or shoulders, and lacks any pedestrian infrastructure. These features create safety risks for both non-motorized and vehicle users.

This segment is the missing piece of a local and regional street network that includes improvements to Eureka Avenue, Highway 97 and the interchange serving I-35.

The reconstructed roadway will feature a widened road surface, curb and gutter, and an 8' wide trail. This improved roadway section will enhance safety and transportation choices. These improvements will run right up to the city's eastern border and will align with the neighboring Eureka Avenue project in Forest Lake, Minnesota.

The Hornsby Street Project is intended to create a consistent corridor between neighboring cities that provides equitable access to economic opportunity and outdoor recreation.

Besides safety improvements, the proposed project will provide a more efficient connection between major employment centers in the two cities, including Downtown Forest Lake and the Columbus Industrial Park. Improved inter-community connectivity will also stimulate economic growth by facilitating commerce.

The project is also needed to create a more consistent roadway. Without funding, the 1200-foot-long project area will be obviously deficient when compared to abutting sections south and north of the project area, which were completed in 2019 and 2024 respectively.

See Mayor Hanegraaf's full video testimony here.