Governor Dayton’s announced “transportation plan” would be easier to sell to Minnesota’s citizens and industry if those who pay the bill—the motoring public—through their “dedicated” motor fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, vehicle license fees and motor vehicle excise (sales) taxes, had an ironclad guarantee from the governor and legislature that all highway user paid tax dollars would flow only to basic pavement and bridge replacement and maintenance as determined necessary by MnDOT engineers.
It is my respectful suggestion that the governor must step up to the plate as the out front leader to promote a simple, back-to-basics, Minnesota Transportation Marshall Plan, that no longer tolerates capricious political and central planning daydreams—meaning that taxes paid by motorists be strictly limited to roadway and bridge needs which are underscored by professional engineering judgment. The fact is, that only if we have this kind of strong, disciplined leadership, will we be successful at bringing our bridges and highways up to the 21st century safety and serviceability that is demanded by the motoring public.
Further, it’s essential that there be no more unrequested and unplanned Congressional “pork barrel” transportation projects brought to our state by members of our congressional delegation. These congressionally earmarked projects typically are loaded with “nice … but not necessary” features that are predicated on political rationale, rather than sound transportation improvement priorities. They are outside of MnDOT’s transportation improvement planning process, and can create turmoil within MnDOT’s fiscal management, since these politically driven, pricey “pork barrel” projects require MnDOT to contribute a minimum of 20 percent to the project’s costs … a draw-down of our state’s highway trust fund which is very, very damaging.
It’s important that we recognize that our highways and bridges are so deteriorated and neglected, that we can no longer afford to spend road user taxes on bikeways, trails, scenic byway programs, “Complete Streets” programs, public transit subsidies, streetscapes, commuter parking garages and parking lots, scenic overlooks, grandiose landscaping and roadside beautification projects, expensive central planning exercises, historical niceties, community entrance scenic designs, decorative lighting, and so many other superfluous excesses which have historically been funded from motorist paid highway user taxes.
Put simply, we need a meat and potatoes highway improvement plan where non-pavement embellishments or special interest “visions,” are not permitted. To be clear, we must concentrate solely on well maintained, strong, smooth pavements and sound and safe bridges, predicated on the guidance of professional civil engineering standards.
John Bray, MnDOT (Ret.)
Duluth
Leave a Reply