(Rochester, Minn.) September 28, 2023 – At the quarterly Destination Medical Center Corporation (DMCC) Board of Directors meeting, the board approved $9.3 million in continued support of the LINK Bus Rapid Transit project. LINK is a proposed 2.6-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) route along 2nd Street SW that will connect downtown Rochester, the Mayo Civic Center, and Mayo Clinic campuses.
“This fare-free service is a great example of a public-private collaboration,” stated DMC Vice Chair Kim Norton. “It took the City, County, State, and Federal governments, along with Mayo Clinic and DMC to get us to this point in the design process on a project that will benefit local users, Mayo employees, and visitors to our community.
Construction of LINK BRT is set to begin in 2024 with service beginning in 2026.
Additionally, the board approved $7.2 million in funding for an expansion of the proposed District Energy System (DES). The DES could serve several public and private buildings in the DMC Downtown Waterfront sub-district and would assist the City of Rochester and DMC in meeting energy use and greenhouse gas reduction goals. The federal Inflation Reduction Act includes resources to aid in expanding the DES, requiring additional local funding.
“It’s important for Rochester to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the Inflation Reduction Act,” said DMC board member Brooke Carlson. “Leveraging those funds for a more robust District Energy System will go a long way toward meeting our energy use and greenhouse gas reduction goals.”
The board also approved a $4 million request for design and construction of the proposed Sixth Street Bridge project. In 2022, the City of Rochester was awarded a $19.9 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to support the project. The new bridge will create a connection of street and trail networks across the Zumbro River.
Furthermore, the DMCC board approved the DMC Economic Development Agency’s (EDA) 2024 workplan and budget. Strategic direction from the board and DMC goals, guiding principles and priorities helped shape the request. It will be presented in October to Rochester City Council for approval.
The next DMCC Board meeting is set for Friday, November 17, 2023 at 9:30. a.m.
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About DMC
Destination Medical Center (DMC) is the largest public-private economic initiative in Minnesota’s history. The 20-year plan to transform Rochester into a global destination for health and wellness will attract developers, investors, startups, and entrepreneurs to live, work and play in America’s City for Health. For more information, visit dmc.mn.
