Hanegraaf Testifies in MN House of Representatives Capital Investment Committee
On Thursday, April 11, 2025, Columbus Mayor Ron Hanegraaf joined District 32 A Representative Nolan West to provide testimony during a Capital Investment Committee meeting.
The Capital Investment Committee hears presentations from cities, counties, state agencies, and other units of government and use what they learn to develop a bonding bill based on the state’s borrowing capacity and the project needs throughout Minnesota.
Representative West has authored HF1569 to provide funding for the City of Columbus Hornsby Street Northeast improvements. HF1569 requests that $762,000 be appropriated from the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund, as provided in Minnesota Statutes, to the commissioner of transportation for a grant to the city of Columbus for improvements to Hornsby Street Northeast from marked Trunk Highway 97 to Eureka Avenue. Improvements include predesign; design; construction; replacement or repair and installation of stormwater improvements; street reconstruction, including improvements on roads adjacent to the project locations; and other improvements or upgrades related to street work.
HF1569 is the House or Representative companion bill to Senator Kruen’s Bill, SF1846. On February 24, 2025, Hanegraaf also provided testimony in the Senate Transportation Committee on Kruen’s Bill.
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.
The Hornsby Street Project is intended to create a consistent corridor between neighboring cities that provides equitable access to economic opportunity and outdoor recreation. 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.
See Mayor Hanegraaf's full video testimony here.