Friday night, the Minnesota Senate passed a would-be-historic comprehensive transportation funding bill. The bill includes the first-ever state dedicated funding for walking and biking as well as transformative funding for Twin Cities transit and some road funding as well (full details below).
The next step is a conference committee with the House, which earlier passed a no-new-funding transportation bill. This committee will work to sort out the differences between the House and Senate bills. That will likely begin Tuesday or Wednesday.
Take action
We need the House to start supporting a more robust transportation funding bill if this is going to pass. Please contact Speaker of the House Paul Thissen and your Representative today. This is a historic opportunity for biking and walking (and transit) funding that we can't afford to miss.
Speaker Thissen:
651-296-5375
[email protected]
You can find your Representative here.
Message:
Please support a comprehensive transportation bill similar to the Senate bill this year. We cannot afford to wait to invest in transit, roads, biking, and walking. (Feel free to include a personal story of why this matters to you.)
Rally Wednesday at 11:30 at Capitol
Join the Transit for a Stronger Economy coalition for a transit/bike/walk rally Wednesday, May 15 from 11:30-12:30. We will meet outside the Govenor's office at the State Capitol and then parade to the House to encourage them to pass a transportation bill this year.
Senate bill details
The bill includes a Twin Cities metro-area sales tax for transit that phases up to ½ cent over the next 3 years, which will raise enough to build the majority of the metro transit system and improve local and express bus service. The first-ever state dedicated funding for walking and biking projects is included as part of the metro sales tax and will be $10-$12 million a year when fully phased in. Safe Routes to School also receives its first-ever state funding to help kids walk and bike safely to school. The bill also includes a 5-cent gas tax that is phased in over 3 years as well.
