Chamber of Commerce Report Jan 2006: Minnesota Transportation

[Flabbergasted]

January 2006

TRANSPORTATION BACKGROUND
Prepared by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Page 1

PROBLEM:

Seventy-seven percent of Minnesotans are willing to pay higher taxes or user fees to fund
highway and transit improvements to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety. This
highlights Minnesota’s significant and growing transportation problem and Minnesotans’ desire
to do something about it. Metropolitan congestion is a significant problem for businesses. Our
congestion rate is growing faster than all but one metropolitan area in the country. We are also
one of only three states in which more than three-fourths of the urban interstates are congested.
This results in longer commutes for employees, less predictable travel times for the movement of
freight and other goods, increased environmental issues and ultimately the erosion of
Minnesota’s business climate. Safety is a significant problem on Greater Minnesota roadways,
with 70 percent of fatal crashes occurring in rural Minnesota.

The Transportation Policy Institute estimates that we have an unmet funding need exceeding $1
billion to meet the existing needs of our transportation system. By 2030 the metropolitan region
is expected to add nearly 1 million people and 560,000 jobs. This will generate 4 million daily
trips on our regions roadways. While growth is a good thing, it will further challenge our ability
to meet these needs.

[atreides1]

1. I guess the governor and his cronies didn't pay attention to this.

It's good to know that the governor was thinking about what the people wanted when he vetoed that transportation bill!!!!!

[Blue_Roses]

2. Good grief!

The people wanted better roads and the governor just said, "no.":wtf:

I think his career as a politician is over...