State Representative David Bly, MN District 25B

Spring is on the way and with warmer weather comes a reprise of the age-old joke that Minnesota has only two seasons: winter and road construction.  The unfortunate truth, however, is that Minnesotans will probably see more potholes that orange cones on our roads this summer.  That’s because Minnesota chronically under-funds our transportation system.  In fact, we shortchange our roads and bridges $1.7 billion annually.

That number is so big it's hard to put it in perspective, but the consequences of this immense shortfall are felt all over the state.  In the past five years we've seen increased gridlock on decaying roads.  Project after project has been delayed for lack of funds.  Meanwhile, money has been shifted from one account to another through accounting gimmicks to make up for cash flow problems.  Rest areas have been closed and the state has cut back on snowplowing to save money.  Federal matching grants are in danger of going unused because the state can't fund its portion of the project.  The Governor even tried to convince contractors to start work on the Crosstown project before MNDOT had the money to pay them.  Imagine if you tried to convince your mechanic to fix your car for free.  It really is embarrassing how deeply the situation has deteriorated.

The breakdown of our transportation system effects the everyday lives of Minnesotans in countless ways.  Each minute we waste in traffic is a minute that could be spent with our families.  And though you can't put a price on quality time with your family, you can put a price on the millions of dollars of gasoline Minnesotans use each year as they fight gridlock.   

Our decaying transportation system also has a negative effect on the economy because businesses suffer from increased costs.  Not just this, but companies looking to relocate in Minnesota might think twice if their transportation costs are significantly more expensive here than in other states.

Most importantly, our transportation system is a matter of public safety.  Each year, many people needlessly die or are seriously injured due to traffic accidents caused by poor road conditions.  

The Governor's response to this crisis is a proposal to bond for $1.7 billion over ten years.  This proposal is unacceptable for two reasons.  First, it only addresses ten percent of the problem - Minnesota is short $1.7 billion every year.  Second, bonding for transportation means we are putting the bill on the state's credit card, meaning we'll waste hundreds of millions on interest.

The bottom line is we must do something and we must do something now.  Each year we put off investing in transportation we waste tens of millions of dollars as construction costs only go up.  Minnesotans deserve to have a first rate transportation system.  The health of our economy and community depend on it.