Highway

14 group

to meet

in New Ulm

Annual meeting

set for Jan. 14

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Highway 14 Partnership, which is working for completion of the U.S. Highway 14 four-lane expansion project by Minnesota's Department of Transportation, will meet here soon to sanction an aggressive campaign to pressure MnDOT to move faster on construction.

The Partnership, made up of about 25 communities and about 65 affiliate-member businesses within the Highway 14 corridor from Rochester to New Ulm, will hold its annual full membership meeting at Turner Hall Monday, Jan., 14. It will run from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

In addition to discussing and adopting its 2002 strategies, budget, positions and electing officers, the group will hear from Minnesota House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) and Assistant Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger (DFL-Mankato) about prospects for increased transportation funding in the 2002 legislative session.

Second District Rep. Mark Kennedy will talk about the 2003 Transportation Reauthorization Bill and the general outlook for federal transportation funding for the project.

MnDOT has been given time on the program to discuss the project's progress. While MnDOT's representatives haven't been determined, Brian Jergenson, MnDOT District 6 Rochester public affairs coordinator, confirmed that MnDOT would be represented at the meeting.

The Partnership's chairman, Peter Connor, mayor of Owatonna, will present the meeting's keynote theme, "Unleashing the Energy of the Partnership."

Connor and Corey Elmer of Flaherty & Hood, St. Paul, the group's legislative lobbying firm, will provide a review of the 2001 program and present the 2002 program for approval.

The group's strategies include more intense lobbying of state and federal political leaders, and those who seek political office in 2002, to gain commitments from them supporting the project. A more intense media campaign is planned with emphasis on safety and economic development.

The group has compiled statistics showing the highway to be the most dangerous trunk highway in the state. More emphasis will be placed on drawing more affiliate members into the fold because, according to Connor, "those who use the road and those whose employees use the road can tell the story best."

The Partnership's steering committee adopted plans for the campaign in response to reports that work on a major segment between Kasson and Owatonna would be delayed because the original environmental impact statement had expired and that funding designated for that segment was being diverted to construction on U.S. Highway 52 near Rochester.

These reports and the steering committee's reaction to them brought an immediate, firm denial from MnDOT Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg who said the EIS "has NOT expired .... (and) MnDOT has NOT shifted funding from Highway 14 improvements to Highway 52."

This was followed by an explanation of what led to a delay in the Kasson-Owatonna segment, how MnDOT funds its construction projects, reassurance that Highway 14 expansion remains a priority and a promise to communicate better with the Partnership by Jergenson.

While MnDOT's promise of better communication with Highway 14 Partnership is welcome, Connor says that pledge won't deter the group from pursuing an aggressive campaign to get the U.S. Highway 14 expansion project completed.

"No, not at all," he said, "we're going to continue pushing hard. Wait until they see our billboards."

Connor said the Partnership plans to have billboards along Highway 14 warning motorists they are driving on the most dangerous road in the state.