Walz seeks $3 million for the decades-long effort to turn the accident-prone two-lane Highway 14 between North Mankato and New Ulm into an expressway. An identical earmark is sought for adding lanes in the Dodge Center area east of Owatonna — the last section of two lane between Mankato and Rochester that’s not funded and scheduled for expansion.

Railroad mitigation

A total of $4 million is requested for 15 separate projects on the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern and Union Pacific rail lines through Mankato. The city began planning the safety and noise mitigation work when the DM&E announced it would run numerous trains through the city under a long-delayed plan to serve the coal-rich Powder River Basin of Wyoming.

There’s also $1 million for improvements to an aging railroad that serves Sibley County.

Transit facility

Mankato would get $5 million for the design and construction of a new transit facility that would serve as a bus garage, maintenance area and office space for the city’s bus system.

Heart health

New Ulm would benefit from a $2 million grant to Allina Hospital and Clinics to help cover the costs of the “Heart of New Ulm” project. The 10-year research and demonstration project aims to eliminate heart attacks in the city through education and prevention programs, according to a summary provided by Walz.

Area towns

Requested funding also includes: nearly $1.2 million to Odin for a new wastewater treatment center, $650,000 for a new sewer collection system for Vernon Center, $1 million to Garden City’s Wellcome Manor substance abuse treatment facility, $2.2 million to South Bend Township to extend water and sewer services to 90 homes and businesses, and more than $500,000 for a new well and water tower in Madison Lake.

The entire list of Walz’s earmarks for the 1st District is at http://walz.house.gov/pdf/FY2010%20Appropriations.pdf.