April 29, 2003 -- NEWS RELEASE -- State Representative Al Juhnke
rep.al.juhnke@house.mn
281 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
651/296-6206
3951 Horizon Hills Circle, Willmar, MN 56201
320/235-4442
JUHNKE: GOP TRANSPORTATION BILL A NON-STARTER
Rural Minnesota will continue to suffer from poor roads and inadequate bus service under a transportation bill passed by the House of Representatives Monday, according to Rep. Al Juhnke.
"We face a $10 billion gap in highway needs over the next 20 years just to keep things from getting worse, and this is nothing more than a baby step toward that need," Juhnke, of Willmar, said. "What's worse, the funding that is provided will be eaten up by costly metro-area projects, since the provision requiring equal distribution between the Twin Cities and rest of the state has been removed."
The core of the bill is Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to raise $1.1 billion through borrowing, taking federal funding ahead of schedule, cutting MnDOT expenses and a $100 million "guess" on
growth in gas tax and license tab revenue. However, the bill does not raise either the gas tax or tab fees.
"That's not to say there's no cost increases for motorists here," Juhnke said. "The bill adopts
the governor's request for fee increases for issuing vehicle titles and new license plates."
The Governor's bonding proposal will put $550 million into roads, "but that will have to be paid back with interest over the next 20 years," Juhnke said. "We'll be paying $825 million for $550
million of improvements. That's not smart shopping. It's telling that no pro-roads group supported this bill."
While doing not much for roads, the bill actually cuts Greater Minnesota transit assistance by $4 million, the same as the governor's recommendation. That could reduce local transit services used by significant numbers of senior citizens to get to shopping, medical appointments and other destinations.
Despite its shortcomings, the bill does include one Juhnke-authored provision requiring MnDOT to study the feasibility of including rumble strips on the centerlines of two-lane highways. They
would cause a loud rumbling noise whenever a vehicle's wheel drifts over the centerline as a safety measure.
"The bottom line is that under this bill, Minnesota will continue to have overburdened and unsafe roads for decades to come," Juhnke said. "This is a road to economic oblivion."
