MnDOT Says Congestion Getting Worse on Twin Cities Freeways

ST. PAUL (AP) - The Minnesota Department of Transportation says 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.

MnDOT says the average Minnesota commuter spends 34 hours a year on congested roadways. The agency says 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.