Photo by John Cross
Minnesota State University President Richard Davenport on Friday showed Gov. Tim Pawlenty where Trafton is, and where its new addition will go. Pawlenty and Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau held a press conference at MSU where they pledged support for the $33 million Trafton project, and for an $18.2 million project that would give the Mankato headquarters of the Minnesota Department of Transportation a new facility in town.
MANKATO — Gov. Tim Pawlenty stopped in Mankato Friday to announce his support for two major bonding projects in Mankato: the much-talked-about $33 million renovation of Minnesota State University's Trafton Science Center, and $18 million for a new Minnesota Department of Transportation regional headquarters.
Before a peppy crowd of about 100 students, faculty and staff from MSU, and a handful of representatives from the Mankato MnDOT office, both Pawlenty and Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau voiced vehement support for both projects.
The Trafton project is at the top of the list of projects being pursued by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The Mankato MnDOT regional headquarters is at the top of the list of transportation department priorities, as well. It is the only outstate headquarters to have not been remodeled or replaced.
The Trafton money seems to have a clear path to approval. The MnDOT project's fate is less clear. It has been among the top transportation priorities for several years, but has been denied three times.
Pawlenty, in touting the Trafton project, noted the move in recent months to establish "Centers of Excellence," the governor's idea to avoid duplication of state university program offerings by eliminating them at some schools, and become highly specialized in them at others. MSU has been selected to be the center of excellence for science and engineering.
Pawlenty said such specializing will make the universities attractive to high school students, which is important because of a demographic shift coming in the next decade that will result in a decrease in the number of high school graduates.
"I like the notion that higher education institutions shouldn't try to be everything to everybody everywhere," Pawlenty said.
Trafton, the biggest credithour workhorse among all MnSCU buildings, has long been a source of concern for MSU officials. Its ventilation is poor and it has inadequate lab space and facilities. It also could use more modernized classroom space.
Molnau, who also serves as the state's transportation commissioner, said the current transportation facility, at the intersection of Victory Drive and Hoffman Road, was built in 1963. Today, the facility needs twice the indoor space it currently has, and the offices are woefully inadequate.
The State Patrol also shares the space there, but it isn't comfortable.
"The building cannot support the staff that's there," Molnau said.
A new MnDOT facility would be located near the new Armory, behind the Kohl's development. As for the old site, the state is working with city officials on a deal to have Mankato take it over as a new public works site.
When the Mankato MnDOT project was first introduced, the bond request was for $14 million. Since then, inflation has pushed the proposed project's cost to $18.2 million. The Mankato district covers 13 counties in southwestern Minnesota, including Blue Earth and Nicollet.
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