State Bonding Bill Connects and Secures the West Metro

At the close of the 2026 legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bipartisan $1.2 billion state capital investment package. Senator Ann Johnson Stewart successfully secured critical capital funding to address immediate transit and open-space demands in District 45.

The funding supports two major west-metro initiatives: transforming the high-density Opus district in Minnetonka into a walkable, transit-connected hub and delivering structural safety upgrades to eliminate hazardous intersection bottlenecks along Trunk Highway 7. These allocations help support the infrastructure foundation that Ann fights for.

The Engineering Approach to Public Policy

Johnson Stewart is a professional civil engineer. Her approach to infrastructure centers on proactive asset management, balancing vehicular efficiency with human-scale pedestrian access.

“I am thrilled that we secured such a robust infrastructure bill,” Johnson Stewart said, “to invest in shovel-ready projects that provide clean water, safer roads, and modern classrooms at state colleges to Minnesotans across the state“.

Governor Tim Walz highlighted the efficient, bipartisan execution of the public works package during a June 2026 ceremonial signing.

“Ahead of schedule and under budget, and that’s what the people expect,” Walz said. “With fiscal responsibility at the top of mind, we’ve delivered a bonding bill that will secure jobs, strengthen our economy, and support critical public works, transportation, housing, and water infrastructure for decades to come”.

Opus Public Space and Regional Trail Connections

The 580-acre Opus area in Minnetonka is experiencing rapid residential revitalization. It is currently home to over 15,000 employees and 4,000 residents, with over 1,000 new housing units in development.

A 2026 Minnetonka Community Survey, conducted by the Morris Leatherman Co., captured the explicit desires of local taxpayers. While 96% of residents rated the city’s quality of life as exceptional, their fastest-growing concerns centered around traffic congestion and a lack of contiguous sidewalks. Specifically, 80% of respondents voiced strong support for expanding trail connections and adding open park spaces directly surrounding the upcoming Green Line Extension light rail station in the Opus area.

Authorized under S.F. 216, the state funding covers the engineering and construction of these pedestrian trail extensions and open-air gathering spaces. The City of Minnetonka noted that securing this targeted state capital allows the city to fast-track crucial infrastructure expansions “as a way to fund improvements without raising local property taxes,” preserving regional housing affordability.

Trunk Highway 7 Safety and Corridor Enhancements

Highway 7 has long been identified as a dangerous transit corridor, drawing severe scrutiny from local leaders and law enforcement following multiple crossover fatalities and severe crashes.

To identify structural flaws and improve commuter safety, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) launched a comprehensive corridor study to gather community feedback and target high-risk intersections.

Authorized under S.F. 4695, this funding provides target-funded structural safety upgrades to meet the community’s demand for safer roadways. Key features of the investment include constructing continuous median barriers to stop head-on collisions, building safe pedestrian bridges near Minnetonka High School, and replacing high-risk traditional intersections with single and multi-lane roundabouts. This regional approach acts as a structural bookend to Johnson Stewart’s ongoing transportation work along the neighboring I-494 corridor.