With broad bipartisan support, the Minnesota Senate passed a comprehensive transportation bill that provides more than $5.7 billion in transportation funding, including more than $4.32 billion for roads and bridges over the next five years, without a gas tax, mileage tax, sales tax, or license tab fee increase. Included in the bill is language authored by Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) that funds the construction of an interchange at the intersections of Highway 169, Highway 282, and State Highway 9, as well as the addition of an overpass for Highway 169 between 173rd Street and Bluff Drive.
Another notable portion of the bill adjust the state Auto Parts Sales Tax. Under current law, every year a flat amount of $145.644 million of the auto parts sales tax is taken from the general fund and given to the Highway Users Tax Distribution Fund (HUTDF), which is less than 50% of the amount collected from the auto parts sales tax. This HUTDF funding supports highways, roads, and streets across the state. This bill would adjust that amount to 100% of auto parts sales tax funds, so that the Transportation fund continues to grow over time. 86% of funding would go to HUTDF, 7% would go to the Small Cities Account, and 7% would go to the Townships Road Account.
“The spot of the proposed interchange is currently the last signaled intersection on 169 between the Twin Cities and St. Peter, and it’s an important corridor of commerce where the state’s agricultural products make their way to processing plants throughout Minnesota. Not only would both projects be beneficial to distributors, shippers, and truckers, but their completion would also improve the safety for travelers and residents. The intersection saw 83 crashes between 2018 and 2020—improving the road’s safety is vitally important to the State, Scott County, and the City of Jordan. These projects are urgent, and it’s time to get them done,” said Sen. Pratt.
Additional language authored by Sen. Pratt will allow third-party road testing for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) consistent with federal regulations and using the same criteria adopted by 20 other states. The language states that any third-party testing program must be approved by the Department of Vehicle Services (DVS) and be located in Minnesota. Third party testers would be overseen by the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and would prove instrumental in assisting with the road test backlogs for CDL applicants
The bill continues Senate Republicans’ strong commitment to roads and bridges by providing an additional $982.98 million for state roads and bridges, $154.5 million for Corridors of Commerce, $303.596 million for County State Aid Highways, $79.75 million for Municipal State Aid Highways, and $69.1 million for town roads and $69.01 million for small cities assistance.
