State’s transportation budget is headed the wrong way(MN)

Quad Community Press ^ | 4-8-14 | Roger Chamberlain

[TurboZamboni]

During the last twenty years, roads and bridges have taken a back seat to commuter and light rail projects. This was never clearer than in a 2010 report by the Metropolitan Council titled, “Regional 2030 Transportation Policy Plan,” which virtually gives up on constructing any new vehicle lanes in the seven-county metropolitan area. Instead, the plan places heavy emphasis on rail projects.

The population of the metropolitan area is about 3.3 million. Minneapolis and Saint Paul are only about 20 percent of that. In other words, most people live and work outside of the two cities. So why is there a continued desire to build costly light rail systems that serve such a small segment of the population?

Imagine how many roads and bridges could be improved with the money we are spending on inefficient, highly subsidized commuter rail systems; roads and bridges that the vast majority of us rely on every day to get to work, transport our families, and run our businesses. These are roads and bridges that are in desperate need of repair and expansion.

[TurboZamboni]

The governor’s bonding bill totals $850 million. Only 5 percent of that is dedicated to roads. This is all you need to know about where the governor’s priorities are.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Liberals: ruining transportation since the 1960s.

[TurboZamboni]

nearly a billion for the new bonding bill and 4.3% is roads and bridges.

no wonder our roads suck.