300,000 Minnesotans Live Near Oil Train Routes

One in 17 Minnesotans live within a half-mile of routes that move oil from North Dakota.

That is around 300,000 people living in zones that call for evacuations in case of an accident.

State transportation officials are highlighting the numbers as Governor Dayton pushes for safety improvements.

Railroad companies and Republicans have resisted the governor’s plan to fund safety improvements through a series of tax increases and annual fees.