MnDOT: Congestion getting worse on Twin Cities freeways

Published 9:46 am Friday, May 8, 2015

The Minnesota Department of Transportation said congestion is getting worse on Twin Cities freeways.

MnDOT tracked rush-hour traffic flows on over 750 miles of highways in the Twin Cities metro area during 12 days in October, and found that congestion was up 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Most of the congested freeway miles are on metro area interstates, especially Interstates 94 and 35W, rather than state highways.

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MnDOT said the average Minnesota commuter spends 34 hours a year on congested roadways. The agency said that could climb to 45 hours a year by 2025 without additional investments in transportation infrastructure.

Gov. Mark Dayton has proposed a transportation funding package that would increase the number of MnPASS lanes and boost public transit capacity across the metro area.