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Transportation task force report will get committee hearing
A report, compiled by a Gov. Mark
Dayton-appointed transportation task force and made public late last year,
forecasts a $50 billion deficit in transportation funding over the next 20
years. It recommends bridging the shortfall through hikes in the state’s gas
tax, license registration fees and sales tax.
Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls), chair of the House Transportation Finance
Committee, said members would hear the report later this month, as it launches
its discussion over how to fund the state’s growing list of transportation
infrastructure needs.
“I, clearly, am of the mind we have significant unmet needs in the state, and we need to sort of bridge the gap between those needs and the revenue we need to
raise in order to lessen that gap,” Hornstein said following the meeting. “So,
we’ll be looking at that both for roads, bridges and for mass transportation.“
Incoming Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle has said he supports an increased gas
tax; Dayton, however, has expressed unease with the proposed 40-cent hike.
Re-authorizing funding already dedicated to transit will also be a priority this session,
Hornstein said, as will be concerns expressed by members over specific transit
projects. Included in that list would be additional improvements to Highway 14
in southern Minnesota — a stretch of which was identified by the Department of
Transportation as a trouble spot for head-on collisions — mentioned by both
Rep. John Petersburg (R-Waseca) and Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake).
“It’s
something we have to do,” Petersburg said. “…We’re anxious to get that done for
safety reasons, as well as others.”
The committee’s first meeting was filled largely with member introductions and an overview of
the committee process, with lawmakers sharing some of their early
transportation memories.
Next week, the committee plans to meet with officials from MnDOT and regional
transportation authorities.
- Jonathan Avise
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