U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Representatives Jim Hagedorn (MN-1), Angie Craig (MN-2), Dean Phillips (MN-3), Ilhan Omar (MN-5), Tom Emmer (MN-6), Collin Peterson (MN-7), and Pete Stauber (MN-8) urged the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide information regarding the BUILD grant selection process to provide clarity to the competitive applicants from Minnesota that did not receive any funding this year. While DOT awarded $900 million in BUILD grants this fiscal year, Minnesota did not receive any funding while other states received up to three grants. In a letter, members of the Minnesota delegation highlight the integral role grants have played in improving the safety of Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure, including funding for rebuilding bridges, roads, and highway interchanges.

“Minnesota communities were deprived of a key opportunity to improve the safety and efficiency of transportation networks across our state as well as the economic benefits of direct investments in reliable infrastructure.” the members wrote.

“As you consider award funding for next year’s BUILD grant program, we urge you to provide clarity to applicants about their projects to improve Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure.”

The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Chao:

We write to request information regarding why Minnesota transportation projects did not receive any funding through the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program this year. To provide clarity to the many competitive applicants from our state, we ask that DOT provide insight into the grant selection process.

Since the inception of the Transportation Investment Generating Economy Recovery (TIGER) program in 2010, discretionary federal transportation funding from TIGER, and now BUILD, has played an integral role in improving the safety of Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure, including funding for rebuilding bridges, roads, and highway interchanges. Over the years, the state of Minnesota, its counties, and cities have submitted competitive grant applications to address critical transportation needs in the state, and have been awarded these funds.

While DOT awarded $900 million in BUILD grants this fiscal year, Minnesota did not receive any funding while other states received up to three grants. As a result, Minnesota communities were deprived of a key opportunity to improve the safety and efficiency of transportation networks across our state as well as the economic benefits of direct investments in reliable infrastructure.

We respectfully request that you share with us the determination behind the merits and compared benefits of projects against Minnesota applications. As you consider award funding for next year’s BUILD grant program, we urge you to provide clarity to applicants about their projects to improve Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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