Governor Threatens Minnesota's Future With Slashes to Bus and Rail System

In February 2008, advocates for a balanced transportation system secured a major victory: over $100 million in dedicated funding to build out a region-wide transit system. Legislators gave metropolitan counties the opportunity to opt into this new funding stream, and Anoka, Ramsey, Dakota, Hennepin, and Washington counties all voted to levy the funding. As expected, Scott and Carver counties voted no, but those counties may opt in at a future date.

Shortly afterwards, Governor Pawlenty attacked this victory. The Governor slashed almost 40 percent of the general fund allocation to metro-area transit, a cut nearly 10 times greater than cuts to other general fund allocations. This month, the Governor vetoed the Central Corridor light rail transit line, as well as funding for nearly every transit project outlined in the Metropolitan Council’s regional transit plan.

The end consequence of these actions? Potential service cuts and fare hikes for bus users, and an indefinite delay of light rail.  

“These attacks are made even more perplexing by the Governor’s public statements of support for transit and reducing the impacts of global climate change,” says Dave Van Hattum, Policy and Advocacy Program Manager at Transit for Livable Communities. “We can only conclude that the Central Corridor and our region’s transit system are unfortunate pawns in his political game with legislators. It’s a shame that Minnesota’s needs are left out of the equation.” 

The Central Corridor is the third line in a long-planned regional transit system that would connect communities across the seven-county metro area. Every year Minnesota waits to fund this line, its cost goes up by $40 million. In turn, every passing year pushes back deadlines for other projects in the transit system plan, increasing those costs as well. On top of all this, Minnesota stands to lose half a billion dollars in matching federal funds. The Twin Cities region would be pushed to the bottom of the federal funding pile, while at least half a dozen other states clamor to take Minnesota’s place in line for this money.

 “The Governor’s continued attacks on Minnesota’s transit system are the height of fiscal irresponsibility,” says Lea Schuster, Executive Director of Transit for Livable Communities. “By delaying projects and cutting funding, the Governor is placing a direct financial burden on Minnesota families, who are seeking alternatives to high gas prices and sitting in traffic.”

Members of Transit for Livable Communities’ action network have been calling, emailing, and writing letters to the Governor, asking him to restore funding for Central Corridor and the rest of Minnesota’s transit system. Transit for Livable Communities still encourages you to contact the Governor, and ask him to stop attacking our transit system. The Governor can be reached at651-296-3391or tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us.