Transportation Budget
NEW: Links to Governor’s budget recommendations for transportation and transit.
Interested in roads, bridges or transit? Did you know that most transporation spending comes from specially dedicated revenue?
We invite you to contribute your ideas for the state’s general fund transportation budget. This forum is a space for you to join the discussion on how the state should prioritize funding for these issues.
Only a small percentage of what the state spends on transportation is funded through the general fund (4%). Most state transportation funding comes from the Trunk Highway Fund, which is constitutionally dedicated revenue from the state gasoline tax. A significant amount of transportation funding also comes from federal funds.
Overall, the state general fund budget for transportation is pretty small, around half a percent, or around $260 million dollars in FY 2008-2009. General fund spending for transportation supports administrative functions at the MN Department of Transportation, Vehicle Services operations at the Department of Public Safety, and transit operations at the Metropolitan Council.
(click images to enlarge)
In the chart above, “Transportation Budget: All Funds Spending By Fund,” there is a category called “Local State Aid Funds.” That pie slice represents the County State Aid Highway Fund (CSAH) and the Municipal State Aid Street Fund (MSAS). Those funds receive gas tax, tab fee and MVST revenues from the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund according to the constitutional formula (62% to Trunk Highway, 29% to CSAH, and 9% to MSAS). The money in the Local State Aid funds is then distributed to counties and cities based on formulas in statute.
NEW: Links to Governor’s budget recommendations for transportation and transit.
Try to be as specific as possible in your comments so that your suggestions can be fully utilized by the Transportation Budget Division Committee. Thank you for adding your ideas to the discussion.
You may also share your ideas directly with your local Senator:
Follow this link to look up contact information for your Senator.
Follow this link to look up who represents you.
To learn more about the Senators who serve on the Transportation Budget Committee, follow this link.
St. Paul
January 15th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
How much are State taxpayers spending on interest payments on State borrowing for concrete projects like the expansion of freeways and the 40-yard wide strip of concrete on University Avenue known as the “Central Corridor” Project?
st. paul
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:54 pm
First off, If I were Governor…I would not let the Vikings staff on the property and block all corespondence!
Secondly…have all security staff do something…open a door, check a ticket, greet people. This will triple the nations productivity!
Thirdly…..don’t pay whatever construcition company built the 35e & 694 interchange. We appriciate their volunteer efforts, but the design has not improved a thing.
Forthly, fire the PR people for the DOT. They keep telling us everything is OK, and the DOT is doing an awful job.
Fifthly….Hire some decent safety inspectors who are not on the take from Palenty….
Steve Law
Stillwater
January 22nd, 2009 at 6:29 pm
A couple years ago there was an article in the Pioneer Press about the enormous amount of contracts being issued to outside consultants from MnDOT when most of this work could have been done in house. If this is continuing, and it may not, it needs to stop. It’s not only the cost of the consultant, but a state contracts person has to get a proposal and write the contract, someone has to verify the contract has been met and someone has to write a check and do all the accounting. All this costs money.
Forest Lake
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
How about switching all state vehicles to a synthetic oil? Less oil changes, buy an american product, and save some coin! I have it in my car and can go 25k or 1 year between changes and I have over 170k miles on it…just think of the amount of state vehicles that we have on the roads and the volume of oil that is in these cars & trucks. I know that it might not be the best solution for some vehicles, but at a minimum the motor pool cars, trucks, mini-vans that are all over the place this can be a money saver.
Minneapolis
January 25th, 2009 at 4:15 am
My family budget has little discretionary spending. So not to borrow we make every dollar count by putting our money where we get the best payback.
Yet the State of Minnesota not only can’t balance their budget without talk of “Revenue Enhancements,” they perpetually fund transportation disproportionate to actual use.
Cases in point:
Sixty percent of the state’s road usage is in the Metro. Only 25% of the gas tax is used where the predominance of use and congestion. The remaining 75% is used on little used roads and transportation projects outstate that everyone knows is simply PORK! That is stupid besides being polluting and costly to business and the workforce. The Highway Funding Formula needs to be reformed.
Only 1% of all passenger miles traveled in the Twin Cities is currently carried by mass transit —mostly buses. The Metropolitan Council has recommended spending 70% of new transportation funds on transit instead of roads. The Taxpayers League calculated it would be cheaper to lease a luxury car for each light rail user than pay the subsidy needed to build and operate the underutilized lines. Mass transit is obscenely costly for taxpayers.
Light rail, commuter rail, urban walkways, and bike paths will not relieve congestion and should not be funded from car taxes. 100% of taxes collected on automobiles are user fees and should be spent on building and maintaining the road system. Billions of dollars will be diverted if business as usual is allowed in St. Paul.
These inequities should never have been allowed when the State had budget surpluses. Now with major economic shortfalls, reform is essential.
Maple Grove
January 25th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
These are tough times, it’s time to make the infrastructure work for us. How about creative proposals, like a heavy rail, semi-trailer intermodal depot at a place like Albert Lea at the junction of existing rail lines and two interstate highways? Give the railroad a little land, a big project for outstate, could get traction. How about getting that Stillwater bridge done now at an expidited pace…it’s only been 20 years…..
St. Paul
January 25th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Mn/DOT is bloated with unneeded managers and analysts, methodologists and unqualified staff. Mn/DOT’s sperm whale belly may crush Minnesotan’s with its very weight.
A position by position audit of Mn/DOT is needed. Do-nothing management and analyst positions need to be eliminated. Unqualified staff need to be shown the door.
Mn/DOT has about 5,000 employees and 500 could be shown the door without any resulting impact on service.
If the DFL does not clean up sink holes like this and other wasteful state programs, the DFL party in Minnesota will be replaced with a party that actually cares about our people.
R/ville
January 28th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Put TOLL at the borders esp Wisconson .Wi residents shoudl pay tax to use the road esp those that work in MN.
State own Casino on ST PAUL riverfront
delano
January 29th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Privitize MnDOT!! A large portion of their resposibility is contracted out currently but there has been no corresponding reduction in staff at MnDOT. Bring in more accountants to determine scope of projects. Civil engieers and polititions have conflict of interest.
St. Peter
January 29th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I wonder who pays for(your), the government’s retirement plan? I have worked for the state for 17 years, I realize there are many more people here, with more years. My point is. As a thank you for this time, you want to remove our retirement plan!!! Many of us took these jobs for the benefits they provided and now they are continually taking away little by little. We are working with clients here that many people outside the state say they could never do as a job. Keep taking away, and that might be the next issue. Who will care for these clients!!!! I am upset also that they take away early retirement from workers who have way more contact with clients than the Superviors and Asst. Supervisors do!! Why does the system continually run backwards and then wants to catch it’s tail?
Deb Smith
Maple Grove
January 30th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Maybe it’s time to make Metro Transit a self-sufficient entity? I know the rush hour buses will continue to haul in the cash to keep the joint running, but maybe some soul searching by Met Transit will produce some routes that are currently running near empty that can just be ended. Doesn’t make sense to pay someone $15 and hour to drive a $150,000 bus that gets 8 miles to the gallon to carry 3 passengers who aren’t even paying full fare (the fare is subsidized by taxpaying citizens).
St Paul
January 31st, 2009 at 9:38 am
PLEASE, no more government owned property in St Paul. Put your government owned casino somewhere else.
Also the central corridor project must be scrapped, and higher prices added for the Minneapolis street cars.If they can’t pay their own way get rid of them.
Buffalo
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:49 am
I completely disagree with the “in-house” mentality. We need to send as many of these projects as possible to the private sector. The needed change is this: engineering firms for public projects get paid by the job or the hour. Far to many projects are paid by 10 to 15% of the total cost. Of course, the engineers are going to ramp up the cost, THEY MAKE MORE! If the design cost for projects are a fixed number, I guarantee you that not only will you see new technology faster but also a general decrease in construction costs.
st paul
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
MErge UM/MEtrotansit system This is duplicated services.Airport allowed MEtrotransit to provide services between the 2 terminals.
Toll roads at the borders .
End all free parking for state employees and UM,state colleges .Buses passes are available at deep discount
st paul
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Steve I agree with your MEtro Transit comment They does cut bus routes even though they are duplciated and alternative buslines are available within walking distance MANy buses on the #7 would run empty but they keep running this line with no riders at times Everyone lives within 4 blocks to buslines but they owuld not cut.NO one at MET COUncil wouldtake the initative and recommend they cut non-productive line.The drivers would drive the bus in services to St Paul then take them out of services to the garage in Mpkls ,then send a bus from Mpls to St Paul out of services to start a run in ST Paul 10miles away.
Wayzata
February 6th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
I second the comments of Karen from St. Paul. Well put Karen!
Same to you Bud Warpe from Minneapolis. Also very well said.
All you Senators need to read these comments.
Fridley
February 10th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I think the motor vehicle sales tax should be expanded to include the sales of pre-owned vehicles (the common euphemism for “used”).
st paul
February 11th, 2009 at 6:42 am
Fiinish the Wacota Bridge project! There has been too much time and money wasted. There is NO excuse, when so many other projects have been completed/executed efficiently and on time.
Slayton
February 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I like Karen A.’s comments. But, this needs to happen with ALL departments and budgets. The legislature/governor can cut money, but we all know that internally in each department, the fat doesn’t get cut. So, someone needs to look line by line, job by job and figure out what can be cut, then have the guts to cut it.
St Paul
February 12th, 2009 at 8:28 am
As someone heavily dependent on transit, I bristle at the suggestions to cut or eliminate such spending. The “subsidy” argument I find most galling. While transit may not be directly self-sufficient, failing to fund it means huge societal costs for “normal,” i.e. single-occupancy vehicle transportation.
Wherever large numbers of people congregate we have multiple football-field size parking lots. This is good use of land?
In Minnesota there were 81,505 traffic crashes in 2007 resulting in 510 deaths and 35,318 were injured (1,736 severely). The economic loss to Minnesota was estimated at $1.7 billion. This does not include the millions of dollars spent on law enforcement for moving violations.
Buses and the light rail are involved in a tiny fraction of accidents per passenger miles and have low law enforcement needs. Who is really being subsidized?
Having poor or mediocre bus service means people can’t rely on timely transportation from point to point, thus it is harder to attract riders. For those physically or financially unable to drive themselves, there is no choice. I am not looking for a handout. I just want to go to work.
Gibbon
February 17th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Good comments Bruce Harrington, St. Paul.
I have experience of having lived in Germany twice (university exchange and Sister City work exchange). I loved the ability to go anywhere in Europe on mass transit. Several years ago, I also had the opportunity to live in the Washington DC area when on an internship for 3 months. Here too I was able to rely entirely on public transportation to go anywhere and everywhere!
Granted DC and Germany have a higher density population than we do here in MN, but public transit here is very poor. After becoming disabled in a car accident myself 17 years ago, I am limited to when and where I can drive. Although there are transit options out here with the county transit, this is very limited: time and distance (I cannot travel outside my county on this system). I do have the ability to drive to an outer metro area location, but could not “park and ride” on the weekend. I had to work very hard to arrange for someone to transport me from an outer lot in Chaska so that I could attend a Saturday seminar in downtown Minneapolis. I also had to arrange for a friend to pick me up in a smaller city outside of Mankato to drive me downtown to attend a public information meeting in Mankato. Praise God my husband had recovered from his flu bug in time to drive my son and I to a doctor’s appointment in Bloomington yesterday. I would not have been able to drive there myself.
Granted, public transit would be an expensive investment. However, I’d like to see county transportation sysems able to connect to other transportation systems. I’d like to see a statewide transportation network established for all Minnesotans. This would have to include an information office to inform riders of the possible connections and coordinations. The development of an extended transportation system would improve the quality of life for those who are isolated in rural areas due to a current lack of available transportation. This would allow all persons to be able to participate in activities and events in all of Minnsota’s communities. The establishment of a MN Transportation Network could also realize a net decrease in the amount of vehicles on some major routs; decreasing traffic congestion, saving road conditions, improving air quality , as well as decreasing teh total amount of fuel consumption in MN. This would also establish additional job opportunities.
Please invest in public transit.
Public transit is an expensive investment, and it would take some time to establish, but I’m sure riders would increase as it becomes established as a reliable transit option. In the end I also see it as financially and in the interest of safety, the best for all concerned.
Duluth
February 21st, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I think the state should pull in on the state owned vehicles that seem to be used for family trans more so than for there intened use. Most every private person has to pay for thier own trans to and from work. This can go for all 87 co. also if 50% of state and co. owned vehicles were eliminated it would save a pile of money at all levels in turn saving tax payers. Also all of the mndot pickups that are just sitting on road works sights is crazy,do we really need all of these trucks and people sitting around? If nothing else at least these vehicles should not be taken home, it just cost every one too much.
No St Paul
February 25th, 2009 at 7:56 am
I think the central corridor is not an efficent use of taxpayer dollars. There is an express bus from one downtown to another. There is also a stop made at snelling and university. I think we should first concentrate on getting people from the outer areas into the metro and then use our current bus system to transport them within the city.
I think that in would be good for MNDOT to be privatized, perhaps their perception of what’s needed versus wants would be different.
Austin
February 28th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Pass SF #705 and HF 888 as they will provide the money we need for public road and bridge miantenance and repair without creating more debt and taxes. It will create jobs, eliminate the state fuel tax and provide badly needed cash flow for Minnesotans for starters. We cannot continue to borrow to create money and borrow to pay the interest. If everything is on the table, we have to provide for openess and transparency, we have to do something and think outside of the box, then lets pass SF 705 & HF 888. There is life after debt.
Eagan
March 11th, 2009 at 2:38 am
If it is impossible to borrow or tax our way out of debt then we should demand the passage of SF 705 and HF 888 so we can monetize the production of our infastructure.
I personally challenge any lawmaker who disagrees with me to an open public debate. Matter of fact, I challenge anyone who disagrees with me to an open public debate.
st louis park
March 20th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Why are our tax dollars being used to continue discriminatory practices of not hiring minorities? Contracts state that 15% of employees on transportation projects must be women or minorities but this agreement is not being upheld (currently only 4%). When minorities are not well represented in the workforce where are they represented? Shelters. Welfare - and by the way, if we take the hatchet to Health and Human Services then they’ll be really well represented on the streets and in jails. Lets give folks an opportunity to become taxpayers instead. There are plenty of trained, competent individuals itching for an opportunity. Go to HIREMN.ORG for more info.
Also, Bruce Harrington has it right on public and private transportation. The costs of our society’s obsession with driving is astronomical in terms of safety, environment, congestion and culture. It’s time these costs are accounted for instead of pointing fingers at public transportation. Let’s look to the future: a green, energy independent economy with parks instead of parking ramps. Lastly, “HURRAY” for the green buses.
Stacy
March 31st, 2009 at 8:25 am
According to your chart Mn/DOT state aid is 25% of the budget, and probably much more if you consider the trunk highway fund. This organization provides monies to counties and cities for road “improvements”. It appears we only have one plan for County State Aid Highways (CSAH) and that is to make them as big as a normal 2 lane state highways. I consider this the “the Minnesota full employment act for civil engineers”. Most of the excuse used by the engineers to build these behemoths is the potential traffic increases in the “future” or “safety”. Both in many cases are “red herrings”. If we wish to plan for future expansion we should purchase right of way and let it sit without a road until needed. Early construction of uneeded roads requiure maintence and repair, increase speeding (safety, and wasted energy from speeding). An example of such waste is Isanti CSAH 12 which carries a few cars a day and is constructed as large as a state highway (70mph standards). All this does is make a safety hazard from people who use it as a racetrack. This road should have never been so “grand”. This is only one example of waste, I can give you lists of these roads throughout Minnesota. I hunt in Wisconson and they have small roads for light use and construct larger ones when needed. Lets follow their lead and save some tax $$$. The one size fits all approach use by state aid and the counties is wasteful. We need to allow small roads where they fit even though the local politics may have “me too demands”. The counties love to say “but the state is paying for it” Lets not forget that there is no “free lunch” we all pay local, state, and federal taxes (including liscense fees and gas) too.
This is a waste of limited resources since many road
Merrifield
April 7th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Either stop “refunding” the $5,000,000 gas tax dollars to ATV riders and snowmobilers each year or ban them from the ditches so that there is a valid need for the “refund”.
Clearly they use our highway system so there is no justification for “refunding” $5 million a year. The legislation was pushed through as a “refund” because ATV riders and snowmobilers weren’t allowed to use our highway system but that is NOT the case.
Also the gas tax study that the DNR conveniently failed to complete showed that 70% of ATV riders used private land for riding, 15% tore up our ditches and 15% tore up our forest trails and wetlands.
Stop stealing our gas tax! We need it to fix our roads!
MPLS
April 7th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I found it intersting last night that while attmepting to ride the light rail two of the three ticket machines were malfunctioning. There were 50,000 people at the Twins game last night. Plenty of riders. some one may want to insure the ticket machines are operable as there was plenty of revenue lost right there at $4 per rider!
Clearwater
April 14th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Why not repeal the regulations on window tinting in Minnesota? The law is widely disregarded and law enforcement only puts themselves at risk pulling people over for a violation that doesn’t affect public safety. My suggestion: Require a background check and issue a permit to anyone not violent or caught drinking and driving - you can charge enough to cover the admin fees and make a healthy profit. If even 1% of the registered passenger vehicles (4,615,175 in 2000) paid a $300 permit fee that would result in $13,845,525.00 in additional revenue. There are at least that many people willingly violating the laws now…and people like me who have a medical statement of need are hassled needlessly by law enforcement. FYI: My husband and I paid $480 in fines before checking with my doctor and receiving my medical statement for my frequent migraines. We would certainly have been willing to pay a permit fee.
montevideo
May 6th, 2009 at 7:29 am
vote in a racino at canterbury park! thanks
Northfield
May 13th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Cut benefits for outstate people seeking welfare and make prisoners in prison pay for some of their stay. Nursing Home residents pay alot for their care. we need to prioritize Elder Adult Services and properly fund long-term care. No more money for the D.N.R and the Arts they already have their money enough is enough. It is time for Long-Term care and Trnasportation to be the top dogs at the feeding bowl for once instead of begging for scraps. Thank-You David Roberts Prioritize Senior Care Now !!!!!