The Minnesota Senate on Thursday built a comprehensive, bipartisan transportation budget agreement that invests billions of your tax dollars in our transportation infrastructure without creating a mileage tax, or increasing the gas tax, sales tax and license tab fees. The bill has already been approved by the House and will be sent to Gov. Walz for his signature.
“This bill is directly focused on core transportation needs,” Senator Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) said. “The goal of this bill is for more efficient travel. We invest in important projects that connect Minnesota and make our communities more accessible. One of these projects is the Karlstad airport. Another piece, affecting truck weight limits, will help unlock potential economic development and make our communities more competitive with our neighboring states.”
“Additionally, this bill goes a long way to support our law enforcement,” Johnson said. “We make significant investments in our State Patrol and honor two local heroes who we lost in the line of duty. Deputy Richard K. Magnuson and Patrol Inspector Robert H. Lobdell were killed, protecting and defending our communities. It is an honor to have carried legislation, along with fmr. Rep. Fabian and Rep. Burkle, that will give recognition to these true, real-life heroes in Roseau County.”
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.
Karlstad Airport
The bill includes Senator Johnson’s provision for $5,600,000 for a grant to the city of Karlstad for the acquisition of land, predesign, design,engineering, and construction of a primary airport runway. The project should be a great boost to the local economy.
Soybean Meal-Hauling
Senator Johnson’s bill to help local soybean haulers better transport their crop is included in the Transportation bill. The provision is another step in developing critical economic activity in Northwest Minnesota by improving hauling efficiency and competitiveness for a potential soybean facility.
Honoring Local Law Enforcement
Senator Johnson’s legislation designating a portion of state Highway 310 and a portion of state Highway 11 in Roseau County as the “Deputy Richard K. Magnuson Memorial Highway” and the “Patrol Inspector Robert H. Lobdell Memorial Highway” is also included in the bill.
Deputy Sheriff Richard Kim Magnuson lost his life in the line of duty on August 2nd, 1978 at the age of 20. A man drove through the Canadian border crossing at the Roseau Port of Entry and was stopped by Deputy Magnuson. The man had previously murdered three young people in Canada and proceeded to shoot and kill Deputy Magnuson. The “Deputy Richard K. Magnuson Memorial Highway” will be designated on Highway 310 from Roseau to the Canadian border.
Patrol Inspector Robert H. Lobdell was in his sixth month of service with the United States Border Patrol when he was shot and killed on Christmas Day, 1928, while attempting to arrest a suspected illegal immigrant near Roseau. The “Patrol Inspector Robert H. Lobdell Memorial Highway” will be designated on Highway 11 between Roseau and Warroad.
Less stress, more convenience for drivers
The Senate fought to improve convenience and ease 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.
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.