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State Representative Jim Davnie
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-0173
For more information contact: Charlene Briner 651-296-5809
HOUSE BRIEFS
State Rep. Jim Davnie On the Issues - Transportation
I am pleased that the Minnesota House and Senate overrode—with my support--Governor Pawlenty's veto of House File 2800—the "Road & Bridge Safety Improvement Act." It was our first, and only, veto override of the session. Finally, after two decades of stalemated, eroded transportation funding that has led to deteriorating roads, crumbling infrastructure, and struggling transit systems, we will see a significant and crucial infusion of dollars into the system.
The measure will pump $6.6 billion over ten years into roads, bridges, highways, and transit needs in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. This is a balanced, problem-solving initiative that will save lives, combat congestion, provide transit alternatives, jumpstart our economy by adding thousands of new jobs, greatly aid the business community by moving goods and services more efficiently, and save precious time for family and personal activities. Importantly it will also lighten the property tax load by taking the burden of financing area road construction projects off of local units of government.
The "Road & Bridge Safety Improvement Act" will go far to alleviate the yearly $2.4 billion underinvestment in our transportation system simply to stay even when it comes to congestion and upkeep on our current infrastructure. It will tackle the $790 annual "congestion tax" that Minnesotans have been paying in wasted time, fuel, and wear and tear on vehicles.
And thanks to this bill, according to U.S. Congressman Jim Oberstar, Chair of the House Transportation Committee, Minnesota is in line to receive an additional $160 million dollars in federal matching funds. This means the extra pennies at the pump will generate millions of dollars to help repair our roads and bridges and get people back to work. This is extra money Minnesota has "left-on-the-table" in recent years.
H.F. 2800 contains a modest, phased-in nickel increase (along with an additional 3.5 cents to pay off bonds) in the gas tax—a true user fee that is constitutionally dedicated for roads only--to provide a steady, dependable flow of dollars into infrastructure construction and repair. (People in the lowest tax bracket will receive a $25 credit to offset this gas tax increase.) H.F. 2800 also includes a bonding component, $600 million of which is directed within two years for repair or replacement of fracture-critical trunk highway bridges, and $50 million for repair of local bridges. In addition, crucial transportation improvements will be funded by removal of the cap on license tab fees (any car on the road today will continue to pay the same fees), and allowing a metro county quarter-cent sales tax increase for transit projects. Dedicated funding for mass transit has been a goal for transit advocates for a long time and is critical to Minnesota's ability to build the sort of transit system we need to meet our needs today and keep us competitive tomorrow.
Of particular importance to Minneapolis' ongoing efforts to mitigate congestion between downtown Minneapolis and the southern suburbs, a separate bill that provides the state portion of the federal Urban Partnership Agreement funding was passed. The funding provids for the design, conversion, and construction of: a high-occupancy toll lane (HOT) along a portion of I-35W in Dakota and Hennepin counties, a priced dynamic shoulder lane along a portion of I-35W in Minneapolis, and a bus-only transit lane along a portion of Highway 77 in Dakota and Hennepin counties. Single-occupant vehicles wishing to use the HOT and "dynamic shoulder lanes" can do so for a fee. A "dynamic shoulder lane" means the shoulder of a freeway, which vehicles can use during certain periods of time also for a fee. The fee would rise or fall in relation to congestion.
In addition to transportation funding the legislature also tackled a number of policy issues. There were several last minute attempts to make failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense. Many legislators felt that with the carnage on our roads today and the rapid increase in health care costs, anything that can reduce injuries and save lives must be seriously considered. Conversely, others believed that making failure to wear a seatbelt a primary offense posed an unnecessary intrusion into our private lives and would be a misdirection of law enforcement resources. In the end, the provision was not enacted.
One safety measure that did become law was a graduated driver's license for newly-licensed teen drivers, as follows:
· First six months of driving: Only one passenger under the age of 20 who is not a member of the driver's immediate family.
· Second six months: No more than three passengers under the age of 20 who are not members of the driver's immediate family.
· The above restrictions do not apply if the driver is accompanied by a parent or guardian.
· For the first six months of issuance drivers less than 18 years old may drive between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. only when:
- driving between home and work;
- driving between home and a school event for which no school transportation is
provided;
- driving for employment purposes;
- accompanied by a licensed driver 25 years or older.
The Legislature and Governor accepted this graduated license provision one way to reduce teen driving injuries and fatalities. The six-month time frame was viewed as a short but necessary delay to allow the driver to become more experienced without undue distractions.
The Legislature passed a ban on text messaging while driving, unless the driver uses voice-activated or hands-free technology, or is dealing with an emergency. There is no ban on voice cell phone use while driving.
Also attempts to require booster seats for children aged 8 and under (current law requires booster seats or restraints aged 4 and under) were not successful.
Finally Minnesota is now the third state to increase the speed limit for neighborhood electric vehicles to 35 mph on roads with speed limits no greater than that. This allows these zero emission vehicles to be a more attractive transportation option.
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