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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jeff Howe (R)

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Combating invasives, examining transportation and assisting P'ville

Friday, November 1, 2013

Dear Neighbor,

 

This week has been full of meetings where I am working to help bring various levels of government together in search of solutions. Here is a rundown:

 

I met with constituents in Paynesville Tuesday and we talked about the threat of aquatic invasive species in our area.

 

Watershed districts throughout Minnesota have made great strides in stopping phosphates and nitrates from contaminating our waterways. At the federal level, work continues in an effort to keep invasive species from migrating north through the Mississippi River.

 

Now, we need to do more on the state and local levels to combat invasives – such as zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil – before they decimate our lakes and rivers. Zebra mussels recently were discovered in Watab Lake, north of St. Joseph. Watab is connected to Rossier and Lower Watab and all three have been designated as Stearns County’s first infested waters.

 

Someone said during the meeting that Minnesota boats are prohibited from launching in Montana’s Glacier National Park for fear our vessels will infect its waterways with invasive species. That alone tells us we need to do more.

 

The proliferation of aquatic species could kill rivers lakes in our region and throughout the state. What kind of shape do we want to leave our lakes and streams in for our children and further generations?

 

I am determined to take on this issue by determining what responsible steps we can take at the state and local levels that are effective, feasible and reasonable. This means a comprehensive plan where we clearly define roles and responsibilities to improve cooperation and bring positive results.

 

Transportation is another area where we would be better served if various government entities could get on the same page. I attended a conference Wednesday at the U of M called “The Future of Transportation in Minnesota” and came away with a real sense of what hurdles areas of the state like ours in Greater Minnesota face.

 

In short, a metro-centric approach has important transportation corridors like Interstate 94 playing second fiddle to things like light rail expansion in the southwest metro. The Minnesota Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Council both have said I-94 lane expansion is not the best fix for congestion between the northwest suburbs and St. Cloud.

 

As always, the almighty dollar plays a factor. What Twin Cities-based folks do not want to acknowledge is we would get far more bang for the taxpayers’ money by scrapping light rail expansion and implementing more Bus Rapid Transit lines in the metro area.

 

Busses are more economical, flexible and can run on compressed natural gas to ease pollution. We would save a significant portion of the estimated $1.55 billion it would cost to build the Southwest Corridor rail line, some of which could be used to improve roads like I-94 and increase transit opportunities in Greater Minnesota. Besides, where is there evidence showing light rail is a more effective tool than Bus Rapid Transit for reducing highway traffic?

 

Transportation officials expect the metro area to grow by up to 900,000 residents the next 30 years if they continue pumping money into transit in that region of the state. That, apparently, is what they want to see happen. To play the devil’s advocate, what if you spent a greater percentage of transportation dollars improving roadways and transit from regional centers to the Twin Cities? Many people want to live in regional centers like St. Cloud and future generations may choose to stay if highways like I-94 are upgraded.

 

A more equitable, responsible approach to funding transportation – a constitutional obligation – would go a long way toward sustaining our population in Greater Minnesota. I will continue reminding our friends from the metro of the benefits of a more balanced approach.

 

The city of Paynesville has asked Sen. Michelle Fischbach and me to help improve the way state agencies and cities work together on various issues. I attended a working meeting with the Paynesville City Council on Tuesday and we discussed ways we can bring common sense to dealings in the future. It can be difficult for local governments to navigate the various layers of overlapping state bureaucracy and we will be working on ways we can simplify various processes.

 

Thanks for the opportunity to serve and good luck,

Jeff