Transportation (MN Governor's Race)

Transportation and transportation funding in Minnesota pertain to the systems that allow us to travel by car, bus, bike, rail, or boat. Funding comes from federal, state, and local taxes. Funding from local taxes stays in its jurisdiction. Federal and state funding is allocated through complex budgetary procedures. Often, the debate at the Capitol is how to divide these transportation dollars between urban and rural communities and between roads and transit.

According to a study by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies, overall the Metro district contributes about 48% of federal and state transportation revenues and receives about 51% of federal and state transportation expenditures. However, the metro receives 88% of all transit funding and 36% of all highway funding. In rural Minnesota, some districts receive more than they contribute, likely due to lower population density, and some contribute more than they receive.

The majority of funding comes from either the federal government (Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration) or the Minnesota state highway trunk fund. The state of Minnesota collects motor fuel tax, motor vehicle tax, and vehicle registration fees. 65% of this goes to the Minnesota state highway trunk fund and used for operation and construction. Transit funding comes from the General Fund and motor vehicle tax. The Minnesota Constitution dictates which funds must be used for specific purposes.

The Minnesota Transportation Finance Advisory Committee convened by Governor Dayton in 2012 determined that the state has a $21 billion dollar shortfall over the next 20 years, just to keep transportation systems at their current level of service. This is due to aging infrastructure, rising costs of labor and materials, and inflation. Yet, the federal gas tax, a large funding source, has not changed since 1993. The Minnesota gas tax last increased in 2012.

There tend to be two competing viewpoints on how to approach transportation needs: continue to divide the given funds among the various projects or grow the funds. The Minnesota Transportation Alliance pushed hard this past legislative session for a constitutional amendment, voted on by Minnesotans, that would allow all the sales tax on auto parts to be deposited into the Highway Trust Fund. Currently half of those funds are deposited there. The other half go to the General Fund which funds education and healthcare. Therefore, education and healthcare would take a hit. This is an example of redistributing current funds. This proposal passed the House, but made no progress in the Senate. The proposal to grow the funds involves increasing the gas tax to match modern day costs, needs, and inflation.

Here is where the candidates stand on transportation systems and funding:

Jeff Johnson (R): Candidate Johnson will put a moratorium on light rail spending and focus transit money on a first-class bus system. He will base transportation funding decisions on projects that relieve congestion and provide mobility to the citizens of Minnesota.

Erin Murphy (D): Candidate Murphy voted against H.F. No. 4437 (the constitutional amendment) and called on her fellow DFL candidates for governor to clearly oppose it. She is in favor of roads and bridges as well as mass transit like the Southwest Light Rail Transit program. She says that mass transit alleviates congestion and makes it easier for cars and semis to transport people and goods.

Tim Pawlenty (R): Candidate Pawlenty oversaw the biggest mass transit expansion in generations. He presided over the Hiawatha Line, now known as the Blue Line which connects Minneapolis to the airport and Mall of America. He also approved the Northstar Commuter train and the construction of the Green Line which connects St. Paul to Minneapolis. However, he also vetoed a $6.6 billion funding package for roads, bridges, and mass transit because it involved too much of a tax increase, which the House and Senate ultimately overrode. He also cut funding to the University Avenue light rail line.

Tim Walz (D): Candidate Walz will increase the gas tax to expand funding for transit and transportation in a way that is fair and equitable. He will expand the transit network in both the metro and rural Minnesota by expanding bus networks across the state, and investing in high speed commuter rails, light rails, and bus rapid transit projects. He will build a stronger partnership with employers and freight haulers to see how our transportation system can be more efficient for freight haulers. He will convene a One Minnesota task force on the future of transportation in our state considering increases in Minnesotans who choose to bike, walk, use ride sharing services, drive for such services, and the coming of autonomous vehicles.