Minnesota’s Economic Recovery Now in Hands of Governor, DOT, and Metropolitan Council

Transit for Livable Communities Urges State Officials to Focus on “Fix it First” and Transit Projects

For immediate release
February 17, 2009

Contact: Katie Eukel
651-767-0298 x115
KatieE@tlcminnesota.org

[SAINT PAUL, MN] — As President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Transit for Livable Communities called on Governor Pawlenty, state DOT Commissioner Tom Sorel, and Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell to ensure that the transportation portion revitalizes Minnesota’s economy, focusing on job creation by rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and investing in much needed public transit.

During Wednesday’s town hall meeting in Ft. Myers, FL President Obama took an unequivocal stand in favor of a 21st Century transportation system including “energy efficient” investments such as “high speed rail” and “public transit.” Said President Obama: “Even when you’re in the middle of crisis, you’ve got to keep your eye on the future…The days where we’re just building sprawl forever, those days are over.”

“These funds offer state and local officials an unprecedented opportunity to create jobs that will build even stronger communities in Minnesota,” stated Lea Schuster, Executive Director of Transit for Livable Communities. “We’re calling on Governor Pawlenty, state DOT Commissioner Tom Sorel, and Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell to heed President Obama’s vision for change and urging them to spend these investments wisely.”

The bill signed today includes about $46 billion for transportation, including roughly $598 million for transit, roads, and bicycle and pedestrian investments in Minnesota (state shares of intercity and high speed rail funding in the new law have yet to be determined). Minnesota will receive the funds through programs that allow states broad discretion. “At this point, it is up to us to use this money to make our communities stronger,” noted Schuster. Some of the helpful features of the legislation are listed below. 

• $27.5 billion is allocated to the Surface Transportation Program (STP) that, as its name states, can be spent on the state’s most pressing surface transportation needs. Minnesota’s $500 million in STP funds will help restore our transportation networks to a state of good repair if state and local officials give priority to fix-it-first rather than expanded highways.
• Flexibility built into STP funds allows Minnesota to invest in transit, road, rail, and bicycle and pedestrian projects that reduce oil dependence, traffic congestion, and vulnerability to gas price hikes.
• Just under 30 percent of STP funds will be directed (“suballocated”) to metropolitan decision makers, who will have the flexibility to use the money to meet the diverse transportation needs of their constituents while helping to foster the clean energy economy envisioned by the President. 
• A substantial percentage of funding is explicitly dedicated to public transportation, to help meet growing demand. Minnesota’s share of the $8.4 billion will be nearly $95 million.

Transit for Livable Communities recognized that Congress provided no criteria to ensure that STP funds are prioritized towards fixing Minnesota’s crumbling infrastructure and expanding public transit and bicycle and pedestrian routes. As a result, decisions about the kinds of jobs to create and projects to fund with federal stimulus funds are in the hands of state and local officials. Transit for Livable Communities urged these officials to use that flexibility to create the jobs that will both repair the system we have, and build a transportation system in Minnesota that meets the needs of an energy-efficient 21st Century economy.

“Not all stimulus jobs are created equal,” stated Schuster. “State and local officials need to choose the projects that not only stimulate the economy now, but also fix our infrastructure, reduce our reliance on oil, and build a robust economy for decades to come.”

Beneficial projects would repair existing roads and bridges, retrofit streets to make them safer for all users, improve transit service, or add facilities for walking and bicycling. The current spending proposal under consideration in the Twin Cities metropolitan area is dominated by two major highway expansion projects.

“We must seize this moment, rebuild Minnesota for our children and grandchildren, and put our communities on a clean-energy, high-speed track to the future,” added Schuster.

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Transit for Livable Communities is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization working to reform Minnesota’s transportation system. Through advocacy, organizing, and research, Transit for Livable Communities promotes a balanced transportation system that encourages transit, walking, biking, and transit-oriented development.

Transit for Livable Communities Applauds Investments in Infrastructure in Senate Recovery Bill, Urges Senate-House Conferees to Strengthen Transportation Provisions

For immediate release                                                           
February 10, 2009

Contact
Katie Eukel
Transit for Livable Communities
KatieE@tlcminnesota.org                                                                  

Transit for Livable Communities Applauds Investments in Infrastructure in Senate Recovery Bill,
Urges Senate-House Conferees to Strengthen Transportation Provisions

SAINT PAUL, MN— The Senate today took a significant step toward an economic recovery package that could create the kinds of jobs in Minnesota that will help reduce transportation costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy dependence.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which passed by a margin of 61-37, provides urgently needed funding increases for expansion of mass transit and could be utilized to undertake long-neglected repairs of the state’s crumbling transportation roads and bridges if state and local officials adopt common sense spending priorities.

“This package will ensure that Americans can get back to work,” says Lea Schuster, Executive Director of Transit for Livable Communities. “A 21st century economy depends on a 21st century transit system, and we’re excited to see America moving forward.”

However, the Senate bill is not perfect. Like the House bill, it fails to provide urgently needed support for transit agencies threatened with service cuts due to local budget shortfalls. This is especially important for metro-area transit in Minnesota, which is facing its largest deficit in state history: a whopping $45-60 million for 2010 and 2011. Approximately one-third of the funding for the metro bus system comes from the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST); with fewer people buying new and used cars, MVST revenue has dropped sharply. If additional money is not provided, fares may be increased by another 50 cents and/or service could be cut.

The bill also joins the House bill in failing to provide the necessary criteria to ensure that state and local officials dedicate highway funds to fixing our crumbling infrastructure first and building a 21st century transportation system that reduces our dependence on oil.  

“Minnesota needs a good transportation system to ensure that our state can attract and retain good workers and employers,” says Dave Van Hattum, Policy and Advocacy Program Manager at Transit for Livable Communities “Our state is renowned for its strong economy; we need good transportation to ensure that employed residents can reach and keep their existing jobs.”

Now selected members of the House of Representatives and Senate will come together in a conference committee to negotiate a final recovery package to send to the White House. The conference needs to preserve the best pieces of each bill that do the most to advance the goal of creating the kinds of jobs that will strengthen communities, increase transportation choices and reduce future traffic congestion, oil dependence, and vulnerability to high gas prices.

Specifically, the conference committee should ensure the following components are included in the final bill sent to President Obama:

• At least $8.4 billion for public transportation (Senate), $2.5 billion for New Start transit projects (House), and $2 billion for rail modernization (House) for a total of $13 billion in increased transit funding.
• A transportation enhancement program included in the House bill that will provide funding for ready-to-go bicycling and pedestrian projects which are among the most job intensive, shovel-ready construction projects there are.
• At least $2 billion provided in the Senate bill for high speed rail to create jobs that would reduce our dependence on carbon intensive transportation options. 
• The $5.5 billion transportation competitive grants program that can be used for multi-modal investments of national significance, with the addition of criteria that will ensure priority for energy-saving transportation projects
• Additional criteria for highway spending in order to ensure that money goes to fund bridge and road repair construction jobs rather than new highways and highway expansion.

If the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to bring both economic recovery in the short run, and investment in a clean energy economy for the long run, it must create the transportation jobs now that will help strengthen Minnesota’s communities for decades to come. That means funding the kinds of jobs in Minnesota that fix crumbling roads and bridges, enhance today’s transit services, and start building the world class transit systems necessary for our future success.

Transit for Livable Communities is working locally to ensure that Minnesota residents are heard in the stimulus process. It will continue to work closely with state agencies to ensure that stimulus funding is spent on projects that will provide choices in how residents can get around.

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Transit for Livable Communities is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization working to reform Minnesota’s transportation system. Through advocacy, organizing, and research, Transit for Livable Communities promotes a balanced transportation system that encourages transit, walking, biking, and transit-oriented development.