CHICAGO - Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled projects in line for funding if lawmakers approve his plan to bolster transportation spending by billions in the coming years through tax and fee hikes and borrowing.
The governor outlined improvements that would be made to 2,200 miles of roadways and 330 bridges if the plan is approved as well as other highway projects. A state transportation panel warned several years ago of the need for $6 billion in new funding to keep the state's roads and bridges in a state of good repair.
Dayton's plan would generate $2.4 billion for local government projects and $3.4 billion for state trunk highway projects with another $2 billion coming from the issuance of trunk highway bonds.
The projects would be paid for and the borrowing repaid with revenue from a 6.5% gross receipts tax on gasoline, by raising the current 1.25% base tax on vehicle registration fees to 1.5%, and by raising car registration fees by $10.
"Inadequate transportation clogs our lives with worse traffic congestion, longer commutes, more dangerous travel conditions. Those deficiencies restrict our future economic growth and detract from our quality of life," Dayton said in a statement Jan. 26.
Another $2.8 billion would be generated to fund Twin Cities transit projects from a half cent sales tax increase in the region and another $120 million would come from the general fund to support transit projects statewide.
