House GOP Transportation Proposal Leaves Metro Transit Riders Out in the Cold

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Eric Howard, ISAIAH, 928-701-1954, ehoward@isaiahmn.org
Hilary Reeves, Transit for Livable Communities, 612-554-1795, hilaryr@tlcminnesota.org
Becky Dernbach, Neighborhoods Organizing for Change, 717-329-5092, becky@mnnoc.org

 

Twin Cities, MN (March 23, 2015)--Today, a group of organizations focused on the needs of transit riders issued this response to the transportation proposal, HF4, announced by GOP leadership of the House of Representatives. The organizations include ATU Local 1005, ISAIAH,  MPIRG, Neighborhoods Organizing for Change, Sierra Club North Star Chapter, and Transit for Livable Communities.

 

"Minnesota’s transportation system is aging and out of step with changing needs and demographics. As our population grows older and increasingly diverse, more people depend on a full range of transportation choices. We are encouraged that the GOP leadership of the Minnesota House of Representatives recognizes the critical need for transportation investment. Nevertheless, we are deeply concerned by by the absence of attention to the growing number of people who rely on bus and rail service to meet their daily needs.We are also gravely concerned about the impact of this proposal on other vital areas of the budget, including education, health and human services."

 

"Over the past several months, our organizations have been lifting up the voices of people who depend on public transportation. Socorro Lopez, a mother from Brooklyn Center, represents the experience of everyday transit riders, saying: 'Last winter, I tried to board a bus with my kids but it was too full, so we had to wait a full hour for the next one.' Similarly, we have heard from workers in St. Cloud who can’t get home from their shift because the bus doesn’t run late into the evening. We have heard from employers about the need for reliable transit to attract and keep workers. We have heard from people all over the state who want to be able to walk or bicycle safely and who see these options as essential to vibrant communities, small and large."

 

"Recognition is growing that Minnesota has a problem with racial equity. A lack of transportation choices impact people of color most severely. We need an equitable solution right now that doesn’t turn a blind eye to these facts. We need a solution that unites our communities and invests in a more prosperous future."

 

"Public transportation should serve best those who need it most. Right now, it is falling short. Bus ridership is up 14% over the past decade while funding has remained stagnant. Fewer than 1 in 10 jobs in the metro are conveniently accessible by transit while in Greater Minnesota transit systems are chronically underfunded, leaving workers, seniors, and students stranded."

 

"Minnesota has a long tradition of substantially funding transportation from dedicated sources, including the constitutionally-dedicated gas tax and tab fees and the dedication of a portion of the metro-area sales tax to transit. We support the principles of the Move MN coalition and call on the legislature to pass a comprehensive, dedicated, sustainable long term funding solution this session to build the transportation system that all Minnesotans deserve."

# # #

Transit not a Winner this Session

For Immediate Release
Contact:   Hilary Reeves, 651-780-1415,
hilaryr@tlcminnesota.org

Legislature Fails to Seize Opportunity to Create Jobs, a Stronger Economy

Saint Paul, MN (May 20, 2013)--Despite rising demand for transit, increasing bicycling and walking, and needs for road repair, the Minnesota legislature failed to act decisively on transportation this session. Instead lawmakers passed a bill that does not include any increase in the regional sales tax for transit (or for bicycle/pedestrian connections) or any increase in revenue for roads. The new law keeps the region and state far behind competing regions that invest far more in transit.

“Minnesota had a chance to make a decisive move on transportation but decided not to take it. Instead of moving sensibly to expand our transit system, we’re stalled. No increase in local bus, minimal progress on rail. This is a huge disappointment, especially to all the people who need more affordable options for getting to work and school, and for the health and economic vitality of our region. Minnesota is not a national leader today,” said Barb Thoman, executive director of Transit for Livable Communities, speaking on behalf of the Transit for a Stronger Economy coalition.

The law as passed does include $37 million from the general fund for the Southwest Light Rail transit line, but $81 million more is needed next year for the line to secure a federal match and start construction. The law provides the state’s share of operating costs for the Blue Line (Hiawatha), Green Line (Central Corridor, opening 2014), and North Star rail (totaling $18 million), and some additional funding for greater Minnesota transit ($11 million). The small amount of funding for Greater Minnesota transit will only allow the state to meet 60-65% of the identified transit needs rather than meeting the statutory goal of 80% by 2015. The law also includes $300 million in trunk highway bonding for roads.

Throughout the session, the Governor backed a 1/2-cent increase in the regional sales tax for transit. The bill passed by the Senate included this sales tax increase and funds for roads and bridges statewide.

Polls taken early in the session indicated that 91% of Minnesotans support state investment in transit and a majority support including bicycling and walking as part of transportation funding. A business group, The Itasca Project, released a study showing a large return on investments in transit.

The Transit for a Stronger Economy coalition advocated for a 3/4-cent increase in the regional sales tax for transit, which would give Minnesota an economically-competitive transit system in fifteen years.

The 52 members of the Transit for a Stronger Economy coalition signed-on explicitly supporting increasing funding by $330 million per year to pay for more transit, including local bus and rail, safe, accessible connections by bicycling and walking, and transit expansion in greater Minnesota. The coalition represents labor, health, environmental, social service, and faith-based organizations as well as developers and businesses.

“With all this explicit support for raising revenue for transportation through increased taxes, we thought the legislature would act. We know many leaders support this vision and see the trends. They see how other states and cities are not holding back on transit investments. It’s a shame that the legislature didn’t seize this opportunity this year. We will redouble our efforts because we know our state needs these investments,” said Thoman.

# # #

 

Transit not a Winner this Session

For Immediate Release
Contact:   Hilary Reeves, 651-780-1415,
hilaryr@tlcminnesota.org

Legislature Fails to Seize Opportunity to Create Jobs, a Stronger Economy

Saint Paul, MN (May 20, 2013)--Despite rising demand for transit, increasing bicycling and walking, and needs for road repair, the Minnesota legislature failed to act decisively on transportation this session. Instead lawmakers passed a bill that does not include any increase in the regional sales tax for transit (or for bicycle/pedestrian connections) or any increase in revenue for roads. The new law keeps the region and state far behind competing regions that invest far more in transit.

“Minnesota had a chance to make a decisive move on transportation but decided not to take it. Instead of moving sensibly to expand our transit system, we’re stalled. No increase in local bus, minimal progress on rail. This is a huge disappointment, especially to all the people who need more affordable options for getting to work and school, and for the health and economic vitality of our region. Minnesota is not a national leader today,” said Barb Thoman, executive director of Transit for Livable Communities, speaking on behalf of the Transit for a Stronger Economy coalition.

The law as passed does include $37 million from the general fund for the Southwest Light Rail transit line, but $81 million more is needed next year for the line to secure a federal match and start construction. The law provides the state’s share of operating costs for the Blue Line (Hiawatha), Green Line (Central Corridor, opening 2014), and North Star rail (totaling $18 million), and some additional funding for greater Minnesota transit ($11 million). The small amount of funding for Greater Minnesota transit will only allow the state to meet 60-65% of the identified transit needs rather than meeting the statutory goal of 80% by 2015. The law also includes $300 million in trunk highway bonding for roads.

Throughout the session, the Governor backed a 1/2-cent increase in the regional sales tax for transit. The bill passed by the Senate included this sales tax increase and funds for roads and bridges statewide.

Polls taken early in the session indicated that 91% of Minnesotans support state investment in transit and a majority support including bicycling and walking as part of transportation funding. A business group, The Itasca Project, released a study showing a large return on investments in transit.

The Transit for a Stronger Economy coalition advocated for a 3/4-cent increase in the regional sales tax for transit, which would give Minnesota an economically-competitive transit system in fifteen years.

The 52 members of the Transit for a Stronger Economy coalition signed-on explicitly supporting increasing funding by $330 million per year to pay for more transit, including local bus and rail, safe, accessible connections by bicycling and walking, and transit expansion in greater Minnesota. The coalition represents labor, health, environmental, social service, and faith-based organizations as well as developers and businesses.

“With all this explicit support for raising revenue for transportation through increased taxes, we thought the legislature would act. We know many leaders support this vision and see the trends. They see how other states and cities are not holding back on transit investments. It’s a shame that the legislature didn’t seize this opportunity this year. We will redouble our efforts because we know our state needs these investments,” said Thoman.

# # #

 

Transportation Bill Rolls Back Progress

For Immediate Release
Contact: Hilary Reeves, Transit for Livable Communities, 651-789-1415, cell:  612-554-1795; hilaryr@tlcminnesota.org

Saint Paul, MN (June 28, 2012)-- In response to the announcement of a conference committee deal to authorize the federal transportation program through September, 2014, Transit for Livable Communities executive director Barb Thoman issued this statement:

“The proposed new law from the House and Senate conference committee is a return to a 1950s highway-heavy emphasis with greatly reduced accountability and transparency.Thankfully, funding for transit was preserved, but the conference committee stripped some very good policy from the Senate bill. If this becomes law, people will have less say over how their money is spent.

 

The proposed new law gives much greater power to state departments of transportation (DOT), leaving counties and cities with less authority over funding. Metropolitan areas, the engine of the economy, also will have less involvement in how transportation dollars are spent. The innovative and sought after TIGER funding (now under a new name), will be available only to state DOTs (not local or regional government) and then only for projects over $500 million. Two recent TIGER-funded projects—the Minneapolis Interchange multimodal hub and restoration of Saint Paul’s Union Depot—would not be eligible under the new law.

 

The bridge repair provisions championed by Senator Franken were stripped along with an emphasis on road repair, so we’ll see more potholes and failing bridges. The deal also eliminates a critical passenger rail program and eliminates the Senate’s efforts to establish new national freight policies.

 

The small share of federal funding for bicycling and walking was reduced and made optional and dedicated funding for Safe Routes to School was eliminated. Complete streets provisions, already on the books in Minnesota, were stripped. We have seen a surge in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the Twin Cities, thanks to federal funding for nonmotorized transportation. But now, as rates of bicycling and walking rise dramatically, funding for these modes is going down not up.

 

The Senate passed a bipartisan bill (MAP-21) in March. The House wasn’t able to even pass a transportation bill in its own chamber due to the extreme provisions it included in its own five year bill (HR7). Several strong provisions in the Senate bill were lost in fighting off the House-proposed Canadian oil pipeline (Keystone XL) and a coal ash regulation provision. In the name of “streamlining,” the final deal greatly weakens environmental review.

 

We had a chance to enact the Senate bill, which recognized the challenges we face today as a nation and called for using all modes of transportation to serve economic growth and preserve our nation’s natural resources and health. If industry is hoping that Congress will return next year to raise the federal gasoline tax to shore up transportation funding, this conference report and the new transportation policy framework it lays out isn’t going to help make the case.

 

The good news is that it’s essentially a two-year bill and not the typical six year bill. And, we know that more people are voting with their wallets and feet for transit, bicycling, and walking and less driving. We will keep working with and for leaders with a vision not from the 1950s but for 21st century needs and realities. ”

 

# # #

About Transit for Livable Communities

Transit for Livable Communities is a nonprofit organization working to transform Minnesota's transportation system to strengthen community, improve health and opportunity for all people, foster a sound economy, and protect our natural resources. Through advocacy, organizing, and research, we promote a transportation system that encourages transit, walking, bicycling, and thoughtful development.