HF 4 redirects general funds from auto parts revenue to roads and bridges but fails to fund transit and rail crossing improvements
ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota House passed an Omnibus Transportation Finance bill (HF 4) today on a 73-59 vote. HF4 would divert more than $300 million per year in General Fund revenue to a dedicated transportation account. This would remove resources from the general fund that have traditionally been used for education, health care, and other state government services, while incurring billions of dollars in new borrowing for transportation projects without dedicated funds to pay for them.
The bill funds only $5 million for rail grade crossing safety improvements. There is a need for $243 million for high priority grade separations and $85 million for high priority at-grade crossings to protect the 326,000 Minnesotans who currently live within the one-half mile danger zone of railroad trains carrying crude oil have been identified.
Rep. Jennifer Schultz (DFL – Duluth) cited her disappointment in the lack of support for Greater Minnesota priorities, including transit, for her vote against the bill.
“Shifting money out of the general fund hurts children and the most vulnerable in our state. We have underfunded transportation and infrastructure for the last 20 years. It is time to do something real with dedicated funds or we'll all fall down,” said Rep. Schultz. “We have an opportunity to create a permanent solution to the lack of transportation funding in Minnesota this session, but this bill doesn’t get us there. The lack of dedicated funding for Greater Minnesota rail safety, public transit, roads and bridges, and the excessive borrowing on the state credit card make our fiscal problems worse, not better.”
Rep. Schultz encourages community members to contact her on any legislative issue. She can be reached by email at rep.jennifer.schultz@house.mn or phone at 651-296-2228.
###