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State Representative Sarah Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5511
For more information contact: Jodi Boyne 651-296-0640
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
WE NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN TOLL DISCUSSIONS
To the editor,
Recent news articles in the Star Tribune indicate that MnDOT is considering at least one more toll lane through Plymouth and possibly a second along Hwy 169 south of I-394. Once again it appears Plymouth residents are being used as Minnesota’s ATM for a project of state-wide significance. Plymouth residents are already asked to pay tolls to drive on parts of 394 to and from Minneapolis; we do not deserve to be hit with two or three more tolls lanes.
This news came as a surprise to me since no one at MnDOT had mentioned this possibility before. So, I decided to do some investigation into the matter.
As you heard from Plymouth City Officials, they too were surprised by this development. MnDOT, apparently, made the decision to put the toll plans in motion without consulting with the City of Plymouth. When I spoke with a MnDOT official, they claimed they wouldn’t move forward without the community’s consent. However, their actions speak louder than words.
In response to concerns raised by adding more toll roads in Minnesota, my colleagues and I at the Legislature took action. By an overwhelming majority, we passed an amendment to prevent MnDOT from creating new toll roads. The 107-19 bipartisan vote for the ban sends the strong message that Minnesotans should not be subject to more toll lanes.
The major freeway arteries in the west metro have not been given fair attention in recent years. My fear is that MnDOT wants to use tolls as a substitute for making actual improvements in our highways and then use state dollars, which our drivers also fund through income taxes, gas taxes, vehicle sales taxes, license tab fees, and the like, in other areas. Plymouth drivers should be able to drive on roads without paying a second time for them. That is why I joined with 106 other legislators to stop future toll lanes.
It is my hope that the lack of communication demonstrated so far by MnDOT is an oversight and that they will include Plymouth residents in this decision-making process. We cannot afford to have anything less.
Sincerely,
Sarah Anderson
State Representative, Plymouth and Medicine Lake
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