Federal Highway Administration

The figure is almost certain to change as the Senate ramps up the stimulus debate next week, but about 80 percent of the final figure may go to roads and bridges.

Gov. Pawlenty has basked in wide praise over the last 24 hours because his pick to lead MnDOT, Tom Sorel, is an actual transportation expert — not a political hack like former commissioner Carol Molnau or a PR flack like interim MnDOT head Bob McFarlin. But Sorel (pictured above with former commissioner Carol Molnau on [...]