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State Representative
Rich Stanek

543 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 296- 5502

For Immediate ReleaseFor more information contact:
February 21, 2000Jon Peterson (651-296-5989)
NEWS RELEASE
REP. STANEK PROPOSES TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS

(ST. PAUL) A 14-year resident of the Maple Grove area, State Rep. Rich Stanek (R-Maple Grove) has faced enough traffic congestion to know that there is more than one solution to the problems that commuters face every day. To address these issues, Stanek is proposing a wide range of improvements to the area's transportation network.

First, he supports the House Republican 'Bottleneck Reduction' initiative, a plan to provide a one-time shot of $400 million to improve Minnesota's roads and bridges. "The Twin Cities are growing at a rate that makes it impossible to move people from place to place without a major investment in improving our infrastructure," said Rep. Stanek. "Our plan would significantly speed up the timetables of transportation projects across the metro area."

Second, at the request of the City of Maple Grove, last year Rep. Stanek introduced legislation (House File 1498) to provide for express bus demonstration project from Rogers to downtown Minneapolis. The bill would relieve traffic congestion on I-94 and provide relief to the overcrowding of the Maple Grove Transit service from commuters from cities to the north and west of Maple Grove.

Third, Rep. Stanek recently submitted a request to the Met Council that Maple Grove receive funding for the city's transit hub. Maple Grove submitted two $5.5 million applications. Earlier this month, Rep. Stanek met with Met Council Member Saundra Spigner to discuss this issue.

Finally, Rep. Stanek introduced legislation (House File 264) to expand Interstate 94 in each direction from Hemlock Lane in Maple Grove to County Highway 81 in Brooklyn Park. It has been referred to the House Transportation Policy Committee, where it awaits further action.

"Everyone knows that we live in an area that's experiencing tremendous development and growth," said Stanek. "My work in this area is in response to several folks in Maple Grove and Plymouth who contacted me in frustration by the congestion. I'm pleased with our area's economic and housing growth, but our infrastructure needs to catch up."

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