Legislature mostly kind to southern suburbs

There were no months of contemplative leisure between the time Kevin Dahle was elected to the Minnesota Senate and the time he found himself swept into a tumultuous and historic legislative session. Chosen in a January special election, the Northfield DFLer had but days to prepare.

"As a civics teacher," he said, "I taught the book end of it for 25 years. The reality turned out to be quite interesting. It doesn't quite play out like a chart in a book."

What, for instance, he is left to ask himself, ever happened to a bill he pushed aimed at tying Northfield to downtown Minneapolis by passenger rail sometime in this century?

"It sailed through the House and Senate. Then in conference committee all of a sudden it got plucked out. It's like, 'Hmmmmmm ...' And you don't quite know who to point a finger at."

If some things vanished, however, others materialized. He and other south-metro legislators of both parties agree that it was a decent session for this part of the region, with a few mysterious goodies counterbalancing moments of frustration.

Among the highlights:

Out: Commuter rail

An attempt to get rid of the "gag order" the Legislature agreed to impose earlier this decade on any planning for a Dan Patch commuter rail line from Northfield to downtown Minneapolis mysteriously failed after both houses approved it. If Dahle isn't sure who pickaxed it, Republican Rep. Mike Beard of Shakopee, who sponsored a bill on the subject, is pretty sure he knows.

"They never even told me it was happening," he said, "and I'm irritated about that."

The culprits, he said, are likely more-senior Republicans from along parts of the line who opposed it because the line runs through peoples' neighborhoods. "They kind of back-doored us. And we weren't even asking for money."

People in Northfield and Scott County tend to favor the line, with neighbors in Lakeville, Bloomington and Edina fiercely opposed.

In: A bump for schools

Members of both parties agree that they managed to wrangle a better deal for suburban schools this year than in some years past. An added $51 per pupil -- hardly a fortune, but it wasn't even a budget year, and the state faces a deficit -- went to schools in a way that south-metro lawmakers say will help suburban schools in particular.

Instead of putting it "into the formula" -- applying it in a way that weights it toward outstate and big-city schools -- the legislation spreads it more uniformly.

"Schools will all get the same amount, and that's a good and a fair thing," said Republican Sen. Claire Robling, of Jordan.

In: A boost for Burnsville's quarry

Burnsville has been seeking for years to get a plan rolling to convert its mini-Grand Canyon, along the Minnesota River west of Interstate I-35W, into a $1 billion showpiece project centered on an artificial lake the size of Lake Harriet.

Finally, permission came through this session, in the form of special legislation.

"It's going to be beautiful," said Rep. Will Morgan, D-Burnsville. "In 12 to 15 years they'll be done quarrying and it will be a great opportunity for redevelopment. But they needed tools to do that."

Jim Skelly, spokesman for Burnsville, described it as a "major piece of legislation for Burnsville, though it could take 30 years to complete."

Out: Subsidy for the arts

An attempt to get the state to plow millions into Burnsville's Performing Arts Center, now being built in its Heart of the City downtown area, failed. Too local, many said, and already going up without the state's help.

In: Two key bike links

Dahle and others succeeded in obtaining $650,000 to help buy pieces of land needed to make progress in turning what are now disconnected individual bike trails across southern Minnesota into a major artery running across much of the state.

"People have been trying for years and years to add the missing link between trails stretching from Mankato to Red Wing," Dahle said. "And this will get us pieces of it, between Faribault and Cannon Falls." Details on the Mill Towns Trail are at www.milltownstrail.org.

A surprise prize for the south-metro area at the end of the session was $2 million to help replace the old Cedar Avenue bridge over the Minnesota River between Bloomington and Dakota County.

Appearing just as mysteriously as other things disappeared, the sudden gift is being described as a thank-you note from Gov. Tim Pawlenty to Rep. Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington, for whom the bridge -- as a link for bikers and hikers -- has been a passion. "He was rewarding a reasonable, thoughtful member of the other party who'd been helpful on issues like the Mall of America's second phase," said Republican Beard.

In: A congestion-fighting plan

Legislators agreed to provide the $55 million match that was needed to lock down $133 million in federal dollars aimed at using innovative methods to ease congestion on 35W and Cedar Avenue.

"This is a big deal," said Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington. "Especially because the benefits will happen quickly."

The deal includes new toll lanes and park-and-ride spaces on 35W and accelerated bus rapid transit on Cedar. For more details, see www.dot.state.mn.us/funding/upa.

"Until construction starts," Morgan said, "no one pays much attention to a project like this. But it's going to help make sure the lanes we do have are better utilized, expand transit options, and provide incentives for telecommuting -- and I think people are willing and ready to do that."

David Peterson • 952-882-9023