SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — The joint House/Senate Conference Committee tasked with developing a compromise state transportation budget met for the first time this afternoon. Transportation Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher testified for honest and responsible investment in Minnesota’s roads, bridges, and transit, noting that while Minnesota has the fifth-largest road system, we spend 15 percent less than the national average on our transportation.
“Today we heard from cities, counties, labor and farm organizations that recognize the urgent need for additional revenue to fix our crumbling road and bridge infrastructure – the House DFL and Governor’s Transportation plans will get the job done,” said Co-Chair Frank Hornstein (DFL – Minneapolis).
The American Society of Civil Engineers rated Minnesota’s roads as “D+” on their most recent infrastructure report card. Bridges received a “C” and transit was awarded a “C-.”
The House DFL Transportation budget makes honest and responsible investments to fix Minnesota’s roads, bridges, and transit through a five cent gas tax increase per year over four years. Forty cents from each dollar of revenue would go toward cities, towns and townships to fund their transportation systems and lessen property tax costs.
The Senate Republican budget shifts more than $400 million in general fund dollars meant for schools, health care, and other social safety net programs that Minnesotans depend on.