U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) recently reintroduced the National Interchange/Intersection Safety Construction Program (NIISCP) Act, designed to improve intersections and interchanges.
More than half of motor-vehicle accidents that result in injuries occur at or near intersections.
Under the act, a portion of federal highway funds would be used for interchange and intersection development and safety projects. In order to qualify, projects would need the support of local or state governments and would be selected on a competitive basis.
“One of the government’s most essential jobs is to maintain efficient and safe transportation infrastructure,” Emmer said. “Unfortunately, we’ve fallen behind in this area, much to the detriment of the great state of Minnesota. The NIISCP Act puts local governments back in charge of how and where our tax dollars are spent in order to reduce accidents and save lives. Minnesotans know firsthand the insufficient interchanges and intersections on US 10, Highway 55 and I-94. This bill will not only set aside funds dedicated to making sure intersections and interchanges are safe, but it will also relieve congestion so Minnesotans can keep moving and our state’s businesses can grow and thrive.”
In Minnesota, congestion costs grew 37.6 percent between 2014 and 2015, according to the American Transportation Research Institute.