Minnesota Votes Yes for Better Transit!
See Transit for Livable Communities' press release

Our legislators heard you loud and clear--they know that you care about a transportation system that gives people affordable and convenient choices in how they get around. Passing the amendment is just the first step in building a 21st century transportation system for Minnesota.

Since the Amendment will be phased in over five years, transit will only receive about $24 million from Transportation Amendment funds next year. Eventually transit will receive $120 million per year, but that is still only 40 percent of what is needed to build a 21st century transportation system in Minnesota.

Transit for Livable Communities, along with the Transit Partners Coalition, will reintroduce the Transportation Choices 2020 (TC2020) initiative at the legislature this year. TC2020 proposes a new local source of transit revenue to fully fund the regional Transportation Policy Plan by 2020, ensuring that Minnesotans can travel safely and affordably...without waiting three decades for results.  

What was the Transportation Amendment?
When people buy cars in Minnesota, they pay a tax called the motor vehicle sales tax. The Transportation Amendment ensures that those taxes will go toward transportation; in fact, 40 percent is the minimum guaranteed to go to transit. And we have the flexibility to increase that percentage as the demand for transit grows!

The Transportation Amendment appeared on the November 7, 2006 ballot. It passed by a 57 percent margin.

Why Did Transit for Livable Communities Support the Transportation Amendment?

• First Reliable Source of Funding for Transit in State History. Right now, $0 is guaranteed to transit projects- this has led to years of service cuts, fare increases, and no real plan to expand transit in the future. The Transportation Amendment guarantees $120 million per year, giving transit the reliable source of funding that roads have had for 50 years. More...

• Keeps Key Transit Projects on Track and Avoids Fare Increases and Service Cuts. Passing the Transportation Amendment provides $120 million per year to keep key transit projects—including the Central Corridor light rail transit line, Northstar Commuter Rail, and the I-35W, Cedar Avenue, and Bottineau Boulevard bus rapid transit lines—on track. It also eliminates the need for fare increases and service reductions—cuts that would have happened if the Amendment didn’t pass. 
  
  
• Supports Transit Without Hurting Other Programs. Before the Transportation Amendment passed, the tax paid when you bought a car went into the general fund, which is a large pot of money that funds many state programs. Budget forecasts show an increasing state budget, and the Amendment will be phased in over five years. Education, health care, and other services will not be hurt by this Amendment; in fact, a strong transit system supports these vitally important state programs. More...
  
  Check out the Minneapolis Public Schools' endorsement of the Transportation Amendment, as well as the Star Tribune's editorial, "Voters Should Pass the Transportation Amendment: Teachers Fail Math in Opposing the Amendment."
  
  
• Greater Investment in Transit = Greater Benefits for All Minnesotans. The past five years of bus service cuts force too many people to wait over a half hour in the freezing cold just to get to the grocery store, school, or their doctor’s appointments. This is unacceptable. Minnesota needs a strong transit system; passing the Transportation Amendment is the first step toward getting there. More...  

The Support
Transit for Livable Communities was part of Minnesotans for Better Roads and Transit, a diverse coalition of over 1,000 organizations from around the state. Leaders from the business community, environmental organizations, organized labor, transportation advocacy groups, the construction industry, agriculture organizations, nonprofits, civic organizations, and local governments were united to pass the Transportation Amendment.

What did Transit for Livable Communities do?
Transit for Livable Communities educated the public by encouraging Minnesota voters to “Vote Yes” on the Transportation Amendment appearing on the November 7th ballot. Stories and more pictures will be forthcoming!