i94coalition

From Left to Right: Top - Chuck Van Heel, Michael Altimari, Bill Richards, Casey Darkenwald, Tom Darkenwald, Brett Weiss Bottom - Jerry Zachman, Larry Kruse

The Minnesota I-94 West Corridor Coalition is a coalition of local governments, private businesses, local Chambers of Commerce and other stakeholders affected by the transportation challenges that plague Interstate 94 between Maple Grove, MN and Monticello, MN. We seek to work with residents, business leaders, and local, state, and federal policy makers to identify and rectify transportation infrastructure deficiencies along this corridor. The Coalition has joined together to organize a campaign to raise public awareness and advance the cause to expand capacity on one of Minnesota’s most important transportation corridors – “The I-94 West Corridor – Linking the Metro to Greater Minnesota.”

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I-94 and the County Road 81 overpass, about 1.5 miles from the I-94/101 interchange on a Friday night around 5:30pm – Click Image to Enlarge

There are transportation deficiencies with I-94 between Maple Grove and Monticello causing traffic backups during peak hours. The impact of congestion on the economy is felt in all facets of area business and commerce. Many area businesses rely on I-94 as the central artery for the transportation of goods and services, as well as for tourism. Congestion devours profits by forcing delays in shipments and increasing fuel consumption. For example, General Mills reports that it loses $2 million for every 1 MPH reduction in travel speed of its product delivery fleet, according to a recent report by WSB and Associates, a St. Cloud planning firm. As the cost of driving on the corridor increases, fewer individuals and businesses will percieve enough of a benefit to continue participating in the I-94 corridor business community.

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Improvements the I-94 Corridor Require – Click to Enlarge

We need to take a comprehensive approach to expanding the capacity of the I-94 corridor, meaning more lanes between Maple Grove, MN, and Monticello, MN; while being committed to advocating for transportation improvements that seek to increase safety, decrease congestion, and encourage economic development throughout the corridor. It is critical we address these issues as freight volume through the corridor is expected to double within the next 20 years. Engineering and urban planning experts are needed to provide tactical options for most effectively increasing highway capacity along the corridor, as well as experienced government relations team to use these plans and strategies to convey the need for both state and federal funding.

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