16 counties in northeastern N.D. to get $15 million for roads

• N.D. transportation project funding

N.D. transportation project funding

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Nearly $15 million was distributed to 16 counties in northeastern North Dakota on Friday, their share of $48 million of one-time state funding to help cover transportation projects in non-oil producing counties.

The Legislature approved the funding in two bills last year for counties that received less than $500,000 from the oil and gas gross production tax during the 2011 fiscal year.

That resulted in a $3.2 million boost to transportation funding in Grand Forks County on Friday, including $1.2 million of highway funding for the city of Grand Forks.

While many in the state are focused on infrastructure needs in the booming Oil Patch, State Treasurer Kelly Schmidt said the new money will help address other important transportation needs in North Dakota.

“I believe with all the challenges we’ve had relating to weather and just the infrastructure changes that we’re seeing all across the state that our political subdivisions will be very pleased to see these dollars coming,” she said. “I know they’ll put those dollars to good use.”

Schmidt said her office distributed the funds Friday directly to the counties and cities, and the counties will pass along the funding to their townships.

Local funding

Grand Forks County took home the biggest share of the $14.9 million that was distributed to the 16 counties of northeastern North Dakota on Friday.

Of the county’s $3.2 million, more than $2.5 million is targeted for highways. That includes about $29,000 of highway funding for Larimore, $25,000 for Thompson and $24,000 for Northwood.

Ramsey County received a total of $1.1 million, including $141,000 for highway projects in Devils Lake.

Walsh County also picked up a large share of the funding, getting more than $1.3 million that includes about $105,000 of highway funding for Grafton and $34,000 for Park River.

Cavalier, Pembina, Traill and Wells counties each collected more than $900,000 from the new funding.

Here is the amount of highway funding other communities in northeastern North Dakota received Friday:

• Rugby (Pierce County): $72,598.

• Langdon (Cavalier County): $64,397.

• Rolla (Rolette County): $58,366.

• Harvey (Wells County): $57,813.

• Carrington (Foster County): $54,729.

• Mayville (Traill County): $40,898.

• Cando (Towner County): $38,147.

• New Rockford (Eddy County): $35,639.

• Cavalier (Pembina County): $35,487.

• Hillsboro (Traill County): $35,285.

• Walhalla (Pembina County): $27,147.

Reach Johnson at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or send email to rjohnson@gfherald.com.

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