The Interstate 35W bridge collapse demonstrated clearly that we must invest in our infrastructure. Today nearly one-in-four bridges in the federal highway system are rated either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. This problem has been with us for years and it's time to start fixing it.

We cannot simply pave our way to less congestion in the Greater Twin Cities area. We need a comprehensive transportation plan that strikes a balance between road construction and investment in mass transit.

Mass transit availability and highway congestion go hand-in-hand. The Northstar rail will reduce traffic on Interstate 94 and U.S. 10 and allow thousands of 6th District residents easy access to the Minneapolis area.

A good transportation system is essential for our state to compete in the coming years. Traffic congestion costs Minnesotans millions of hours and nearly a billion dollars a year, according to a study by the Texas Transportation Institute.

This is an important economic and quality of life issue. To retain our standing as a great place to do business, we're going to need roads that allow companies to move products quickly and mass transit that can get people from one town to the next efficiently.