H. Dan Ness: An opportunity for better roads is lost

06/04/2007

Legislators turned their backs on the most geographically balanced bill in years.


H. Dan Ness
Star Tribune
Published: June 04, 2007


It wasn't only highways and transit that lost out when the Minnesota House of Representatives failed to override the governor's veto of the Legislature's transportation bill. The lack of will to pass the fairest, most balanced transportation package in years could have long-term, negative consequences, particularly for greater Minnesota.

The shift in resources from rural to metro that has been evidenced over the past few years will accelerate without the influx of funds promised in the transportation bill. That bill provided revenue to fix highways, streets and roads throughout the state. It also recognized the needs of greater Minnesota by providing it, as well as the metropolitan area, with adequate funding for mass transit.

This is in real contrast to recent transportation funding practices that have prioritized metropolitan mass transit and freeway projects while ignoring many deadly zones on greater Minnesota highways, reducing funding for its local roads and offering almost no assistance to its transit systems.

This shift in priorities wouldn't have occurred if revenue sources that dedicate funding to all parts of the state hadn't been shrinking. The reduction in traditional revenue sources, such as the gas tax and license tabs, has led to an increased dependence on bonding and the state's general fund. That has put a damper not only on greater Minnesota transportation projects but has also depleted funding sources for other infrastructure and economic development programs, particularly in the rural areas of the state. The bottom line is that without an increase in revenue for roads and other public infrastructure needs, the economy of greater Minnesota will continue to decline.

With so much at stake, it is hard to understand how some rural legislators could turn their backs on the transportation funding bill. This is particularly true since it was generally conceded that greater Minnesota had never been treated as well or as fairly in transportation bills and, more chillingly, may never be offered as much in the future.

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