On the Way
Volume 1, Issue 6
May 2007

What's On the Line for the 2008 Legislative Session?

Plenty. Real leadership requires saying yes to appropriate investments in Minnesota’s future. Now, more than ever, we need you to keep the pressure on our state legislators and the governor to do what's right for transit in Minnesota. Here's what you can expect to see on the agenda:

1) Reintroducing and passing the transportation bill from last session.
Last year's comprehensive transportation bill would have brought the Met Council and Mn/DOT off their starvation diets, providing a needed infusion of funding for both transit and roads. The bill fell just two votes short of an override, so we expect to see it come up again this session. It may be the same bill, or it may be a slight variation. Either way, passing a version of this bill would go a long way toward meeting Minnesota's transit needs.  

2) Ensuring that the Central Corridor light rail line receives needed bonding. The Central Corridor needs $280 million to stay on track for a critical 50 percent federal matching grant, and $140 million which needs to come from general obligation bonding. The upshot? If the bonding doesn't come during the 2008 session, the Central Corridor light rail line is in serious jeopardy.

Hang on folks, it's going to be a nail-biter of a legislative session, and we're going to need your help. Here's what you can do:

1) Volunteer with Transit for Livable Communities. We'll need your help in our grassroots organizing outreach. Stay posted.

2) Talk to your legislator. You can meet with your legislator, talk to them on the phone, or send an email. Your legislators need to hear that transit is a priority for you this legislative session. To find out your legislator's contact information, click here.

3) Send a letter to the editor. Send a letter to the editor of your local paper talking about how transit investments can help your community.

Give us a call or an email with any questions about the upcoming legislative session (651-767-0298 or tlc@tlcminnesota.org). We need your support in 2008!