WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Friday morning, Congresswoman Betty McCollum announced several federal grants that will benefit Minnesotans across the Twin Cities metro. The funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was passed when Democrats controlled Congress and was signed into law by President Biden in 2021, aims to improve mobility, connectivity, and sustainability of transportation options in the Twin Cities metro area.

"Three years since the Democratic Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are still delivering vital investments in our community and across America. The grants we're announcing today will improve our roads and highways, connect and reconnect our communities, expand passenger rail service, and create good-paying jobs that grow our economy."

The funding announcement includes a $2 million federal grant awarded to ReConnect Rondo to help advance the Rondo African American Cultural Enterprise District and Community Land Bridge project, a key priority for residents of the neighborhood. The $2 million grant will be used to perform environmental and historic preservation studies for the land bridge. These studies will complete the planning phase of the project, paving the way for the state and federal governments to work together to make the project a reality.

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the first federal grant program to redress historic inequities caused by the creation of the federal highway system, marking a major step forward in this process," said Congresswoman McCollum. "The community-led vision to reunite Rondo after years of separation due to the construction of I-94 is what drives this project forward. By reconnecting the Rondo neighborhood after years of separation, we can begin the process of reconciling the harm wrought on generations of Minnesotans who live in this community as well as those who were displaced from it."

"This grant represents a significant milestone for the Rondo community and our commitment to restoring what was lost," said ReConnect Rondo Executive Director Keith Baker. We are profoundly grateful to Congresswoman McCollum for her steadfast advocacy and support of our vision. With this funding, we can make vital progress toward establishing an African American Cultural Enterprise District, creating economic opportunities, and preserving the rich heritage of Rondo."

The grant package also includes more than $38,000,000 in federal funding for the popular Amtrak Borealis, which provides passenger rail service between Saint Paul and Chicago via Milwaukee.

"The popularity of the Borealis is undeniable. There's been a groundswell of public interest in the Borealis, and I'm glad that the Department of Transportation is responding by doubling down on their investment in it," said Congresswoman McCollum. "Folks in the Midwest are looking for a reliable and efficient way to get to big cities and regional centers, and the intercity passenger rail service offered by the Borealis does an excellent job of meeting that demand."

The combined value of all nine grants is $145,865,295. The funding includes:

• $2,000,000 Reconnecting Communities planning grant to ReConnect Rondo for the Rondo African American Cultural Enterprise District and Community Land Bridge. Grant funding will be utilized for the completion of the Land Bridge NEPA and Section 106 Studies as part of the project's eventual master plan.
• $636,000 Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant to the Saint Paul Port Authority for the Southport River Terminal Grade-Separate Feasibility Planning Project. The proposed project was selected for Project Planning and includes activities to study the feasibility of replacing an existing highway-rail grade crossing of the Barge Channel Road/UPRR intersection with a grade separated crossing at the Southport River Terminal in Saint Paul. The terminal is currently impeded by an at-grade mainline railroad crossing, which completely blocks traffic in/out of the terminal and can result in shipping delays and reduced reliability while posing safety concerns.
• $25,000,000 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to MnDOT for the Robert Street Complete Streets and Viaduct Replacement project. Grant funds will transform Robert Street, a 1.5-mile stretch of State Highway 3, from a vehicle-centric road to a multimodal transportation corridor that enhances safety, connectivity, and quality of life for the Saint Paul West Side neighborhood. The current road has deteriorating pavement, some over 100 years old, a decaying viaduct, and many ADA violations.
• $38,629,295.00 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant for Amtrak Borealis Intercity Passenger Rail Service. The project will help support new service rollout efforts of the Borealis service which fills schedule gaps between Amtrak Empire Builder trains, allowing for more flexible travel for urban and rural communities on the route. Funding will be used to support Borealis' first six years of operations as a supplement to state funding from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
• $15,000,000 Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant to the Metropolitan Council to deploy 1,875 electric vehicle charging ports in Minnesota. Grant funds will be used to deploy EV charging ports, prioritizing renters, rural areas, low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, and environmental justice communities. The project will improve safety, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase access to electric vehicles and related jobs.
• $7,300,000 Digital Equity grant to the Hmong American Partnership. Recommended award funding will be used for digital literacy training for skills such as internet navigation, cloud computing, cybersecurity, financial literacy, and digital civic engagement; device distribution and internet access through Digital Hubs such as libraries and community centers; and community workshops and mentorships on digital literacy.
• $7,300,000 Digital Equity grant to Minnesota State Colleges & Universities. Recommended award funding will be used for digital literacy expansion and instruction in college curriculum, train-the-trainer activities, digital navigation services, device distribution, and vouchers to connect unconnected.
• $25,000,000 Tribal RAISE grant to the Lower Sioux Indian Community for Highway 2 Road and Shared Use Path Improvements
• $25,000,000 Tribal RAISE grant to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians for Red Lake Road Rehabilitations and Shared Use Path

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