The Minnesota Senate on Thursday approved a comprehensive, bipartisan transportation budget agreement that invests billions over the next two years in the state’s transportation infrastructure without a gas tax, mileage tax, sales tax, or license tab fee increase.
“We have prioritized safe, stable roads,” Senator Gene Dornink (R-Hayfield) said. “It is so important to make sure the roads are safe and up to date on construction needs. This budget makes sure that our confidence in safe roads is not misplaced. There are projects all over the state that need attention from MnDOT and this budget ensures they get done.”
The transportation budget agreement provides $7.8 billion for state roads, including construction, development, and maintenance. That includes $3.68 billion for State Road Construction and $300 million for Corridors of Commerce. The bill also provides an additional $14 million for local bridges and an additional $5.5 million for the Local Road Improvement Program, as well as an additional $30 million for small city and township roads.
Less stress, more convenience for drivers
The Senate prioritized convenience and ease of stress for Minnesota drivers this session. The final transportation budget includes several of those priorities, such as allowing Minnesotans to purchase their license tabs and replacement license plates from fully-automated kiosks; permitting driver’s education students to take the classroom portion of their instruction online; creating a pilot program where Minnesotans could receive their standard driver’s license card the same day they renew their license or pass their driving test; and reopening all recently-closed exam stations to deal with the testing backlog. The bill also provides funding to improve speeds and reduce wait times at local DMV offices by adding more staff.
A provision included in the budget, introduced by Senator Dornink, will establish a minimum number of driver’s license testing locations. With the Department of Public Safety recommending cutting some locations, mainly in rural areas, this provision will ensure there are enough locations to service all of Minnesota’s needs.
“Our communities need access to essential government resources and it would be wrong to make it more difficult to get a license. Keeping a minimum number open will ensure rural Minnesotans can easily access these essential services,” Dornink said.
Supporting law enforcement
The bill keeps the state’s commitment to law enforcement by providing $608 million for the state patrol and capitol security, including funding to hire 63 new troopers, funding to meet the state patrol’s request for body cameras, and funding for trooper pay raises.
Cleaning up illegal and unconstitutional MnDOT spending
The bill cleans up impermissible MnDOT spending. The Constitution mandates Minnesota’s gas tax, motor vehicle sales taxes, tab fees, and auto parts sales tax be used strictly for “highway purposes,” yet each year the state spends about $232 million from these accounts on programs unrelated to roads. Many of these items, such as aeronautics, tourist information centers, and parades will be moved to the general fund.
Keeping kids safe while en route to school
The bill includes $15 million to protect children at school bus stops by equipping Minnesota school buses with outward-facing cameras to catch stop-arm violators. The provision would likely make Minnesota the first state in the nation to install cameras in all its buses. The bill also provides $7 million dollars for the successful Safe Routes to Schools program, which aims to improve student safety and reduce traffic near schools.