Minnesota: Status-quo transportation bill disappoints transit advocates

[marmar]

(Minnesota Public Radio) ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota lawmakers this session passed a "lights-on" transportation bill, which does not include either a gas tax increase or a metro sales tax increase for transit. The bill passed without the new revenue many transportation advocates had hoped to gain for a long list of transit projects and road improvements.

Of the nearly two dozen mass transit projects the Metropolitan Council wants by 2030, just one received significant funding this session. Lawmakers allocated the $37 million needed for the Southwest Corridor light rail line to move ahead. The money will fund the project through preliminary engineering, which is already underway. That means no delays for Southwest light rail transit, which will run between downtown Minneapolis and Eden Prairie.

But without an increase in the metro transit-dedicated sales tax, the LRT will need another $81 million next session.

No new revenue also means delays for the other planned transit lines, Hennepin County commissioner Peter McLaughlin said. ......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/21/politics/transportation-bill