Send the Governor a transportation package with additional funding for both roads and transit!
Dear Representative Drazkowski,
Please seize the opportunity you have before you to invest in our state's transportation systems and send a balanced, significant transportation funding bill to the Governor. As you work to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate bills, please keep these points in mind:
- We'll have 1 million more vehicles in our metropolitan area in the next 20 years. Without some significant new funding, we'll have gridlock.
- The public is fed up with congestion and a lack of choices. In the most recent metropolitan area poll, 58% of respondents said they would rather pay higher taxes to fund both highways and transit improvements than tolerate increasing traffic congestion.
- In addition, 52% of respondents would prioritize developing an extensive public transit system over adding more highway lanes in the next 10 to 20 years.
- In Greater Minnesota, 6 counties have no bus service at all. In many areas bus service is very limited and cannot meet demand due to a lack of funding.
- It's been 14 years since the gas tax was increased. The state's 20 cent gas tax is now worth 13.2 cents with inflation is factored in. A 5 cent gas tax increase would only cost the average driver $35 - $40 per year - less than an evening out.
We've been waiting for many years for a significant increase in transportation funding that includes additional funding for transit. The time to act is now. If a funding bill cannot be passed out of conference committee, funding for transit will certainly be an issue in the upcoming elections.
I urge you to act today to send a bill to the Governor that provides for both roads and transit.
Your name and address here
