Legislative Priorities - 2014 Regular Session
Transportation Projects and Initiatives
The Chamber supports transportation options that will help meet the needs of the East Metro business community.
Efficient and reliable means of moving goods and services throughout our region are necessary to the growth and success of our region. Providing employees with diverse transportation options is critical to the health of our economy. The Chamber supports the following transportation projects as well as investigating ways to increase and diversify revenue to fund and accelerate their completion:
 Gateway Corridor
 Robert Street Corridor
 Riverview Corridor
 Red Rock Corridor
 Rush Line Corridor
 Saint Paul Harbor infrastructure improvements
 High Speed Rail
 Southwest LRT
2013 Business to Business Tax Repeal
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Repair of business equipment
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Purchase of telecommunications equipment
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Warehouse and storage tax
SPACC Supported East Metro Bonding Projects
Economic Development
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Minnesota C hildren’s Museum Expansion ~ $14 million o This request is for $14 million to renovate and expand the Minnesota Child ren’s Museum flagship building.
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Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) Renovations ~ $9 million o This is a request for $9 million in state bond funding to construct new public spaces as well as refurbish and equip existing spaces in the current Twin Cities Public Television building.
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Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) ~ $29 million o This request will allow cleanup and transportation infrastructure improvements for the State of
Minnesota’s largest superfund site and facilitate redevelopment of the site with the goals of job creation and strengthening the tax base.
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Palace Theater ~ $6 million o This request will provide funding to renovate the vacant Palace Theatre on Seventh Place in downtown
Saint Paul into a mid-sized concert hall.
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Como Park ~$ 22.7 million o $ 8.9 million of this request would fund parking and traffic improvements at Como Regional Park and the
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. o $13.8 million of this request would help fund outdoor pool facility for seals and sea lions, relocate an existing amphitheater and create a viewing area for visitors, in line with federal standards and industry best practices.
Transportation
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Gateway Corridor ~ $5 million o This request will provide planning funding for the Gateway Corridor along Interstate 94 from the St. Croix
River Bridge to Saint Paul.
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Robert Street Corridor ~ $1.5 million o This request will provide further study funding for the implementation of a transit line along Robert Street from Union Depot to West Saint Paul.
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Rush Line Corridor ~ $2 million
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o This request will provide further study funding for the implementation of a transit line along the Rush Line
Corridor from Union Depot to the North East Metro.
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Red Rock Corridor ~ $1 million o This request will provide funding to begin a study on the implementation of a transit line along the Red
Rock Corridor from Union Depot to the South East Metro.
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I-694 and Rice Street Exchange ~ $2.25 million o This request will provide funding to for final design and environmental assessment completion for an updated interchange.
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Critical Harbor Infrastructure Improvements ~ $10 million o This request will provide funding to improve statewide harbor infrastructure including critical upgrades in
Saint Paul.
Health and Human Services
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Dorothy Day Center ~ $22 million o This request would provide funding to support the first phase of new facility to better serve the needs of the homeless in Saint Paul.
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Tubman Center ~ $750,000 o This request will provide funding to complete a Maplewood facility serving victims of violence and exploitation.
Minimum Wage
The Chamber supports the Minnesota Restaurant Association position on minimum wage in calling for any increase to include reasonable considerations including:
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Tiered Server Wage Credit
Youth Wage for workers under 18
Water Infrastructure
The Chamber supports investment in the necessary research, policy discussion, and infrastructure upgrades to address regional groundwater challenges. This includes a fix for White Bear Lake water level issues as well as a long term solution to the underlying issue of groundwater usage in the metro area. Learn More
Education
Recognizing the importance of investing in early childhood education to maintain a competitive future workforce, the
Chamber supports the MinneMinds initiative to expand access to quality early care and education programs.
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