Title
Requesting that the Minnesota Legislature pass a comprehensive road and transit funding package.
Body
WHEREAS, all Minnesota communities benefit from a sound, efficient, and adequately funded transportation system that offers diverse modes of travel; and
WHEREAS, the integrity of Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure is dependent upon long-term planning and ongoing maintenance, both of which require dedicated and sustainable revenue sources; and
WHEREAS, as the seat of state government and the second largest city in Minnesota, the City of Saint Paul is committed to developing a modern, comprehensive transportation system that allows residents, workers, and visitors to easily and efficiently travel within the city using a full array of modes including motorized and non-motorized vehicles as well as mass transit and pedestrian options; and
WHEREAS, current funding for roads, bridges, and transit systems across all government levels in Minnesota is inadequate, and this under-investment diminishes quality of life for Minnesota residents and hinders Minnesota’s progress as a national business, economic, and civic leader; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota’s transportation system is failing to meet the capacity needs necessary to sustain population growth and promote economic development in the City of Saint Paul and cities across the state; and
WHEREAS, insufficient state funding has delayed regionally significant road construction and reconstruction projects across Minnesota; including the Kellogg Avenue-Third Street Bridge in Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, limited increases in funding for Minnesota State Aid roads have contributed to increased reliance on the local property tax levy to maintain the city’s street system; and
WHEREAS, for every one dollar spent on maintenance, a road authority-and therefore taxpayers-save seven dollars in repairs; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul maintains over 1,800 lane miles of roadway within the city, and
WHEREAS, Minnesota contains over 141,000 miles of roadway, and over 22,500 miles-or 16 percent--are owned and maintained by Minnesota’s 853 cities; and
WHEREAS, almost 85 percent of all municipal streets are not eligible for dedicated Highway User Tax Distribution Fund dollars; and
WHEREAS, city streets are a separate but integral piece of the network of roads supporting movement of people and goods; and
WHEREAS, existing funding mechanisms, such as Municipal State Aid (MSA), property taxes, and special assessments, have limited applications, leaving the City of Saint Paul and other cities under-equipped to address growing needs; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul and cities across the Minnesota need greater resources, including an additional dedicated state funding source for transportation, and flexible policies to meet growing demands for street improvements and maintenance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Saint Paul City Council requests that the Minnesota Legislature pass a comprehensive and balanced transportation funding package that permanently increases dedicated funding for transportation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Saint Paul City Council requests a transportation funding package that permanently increases dedicated funding for state and local road and transit systems in the Metropolitan Area and Greater Minnesota; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Saint Paul City Council requests an omnibus transportation funding bill that provides additional dedicated state funding for city streets, including funding that can be used for non-MSA city street maintenance, construction, and reconstruction.