Council priorities fare well in 2008 Legislature

The ride may have felt like an extended roller coaster, but the Minnesota Legislature’s 2008 session had a very smooth ending for the Metropolitan Council.

Chief among the Council’s successes were:

$70 million in state bonding for the Central Corridor light-rail line.
About $55 million in state matching funds and authorizing legislation for the federal Urban Partnership Agreement.
Passage of a dedicated funding source for transit projects.
$12 million in state bonding for regional park capital improvements and land acquisition.

U.S. DOT Secretary Mary Peters (seated, right) visited Minnesota in June for a ceremonial signing of the UPA funding agreement. Next to her is Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Standing, from the left, are: Sen. Ann Rest; Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak; Sen. Scott Dibble; Council Chair Peter Bell; and Mn/DOT Commissioner Tom Sorel..

“This was unquestionably the most successful legislative session we’ve had since I’ve been chair of the Council,” said Peter Bell. “Thanks to the support of the Governor, legislators and our local partners, we will be able to move forward on a number of critical transit projects in this region.” Following are some highlights from the session.

Central Corridor light rail gets boost

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Legislature agreed during the session’s final budget negotiations to issue $70 million in state bonds to cover most of the state’s share of the cost to construct the Central Corridor light-rail transit (LRT) line. Legislation also put a 10% cap on the state’s share for Central Corridor and future LRT construction projects.

The allocation keeps the project on track so that the Council can apply to the Federal Transit Administration this fall for permission to enter the final design phase in 2009.

The Legislature approved a sales tax exemption for Central Corridor LRT project construction, which will save the project an estimated $13 million. The Northstar commuter rail project also won a sales tax exemption for purchase of vehicles and parts, saving the project up to $4 million.

Easing congestion into downtown Minneapolis

A combination of general state bonds and trunk highway bonds for transit advantages totaling about $55 million provide the local match to a $133 million federal Urban Partnership Agreement grant. The funding allows the region to move forward quickly with construction of transit projects in downtown Minneapolis, and in the I-35W and Cedar Avenue corridors. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2009. More about the UPA projects.

The UPA enabling legislation also gives the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) the authority to charge fees to single-occupant vehicles that use the dynamically priced toll lanes and shoulder lanes being constructed on I-35W south of Minneapolis.

State bond funds will help to purchase additional buses for the Metro Transit fleet.

Dedicated funding for transitways

A major transportation funding bill passed early in the session gives metro area counties the authority to levy a quarter-cent sales tax to help fund construction and operation of transitways like Central Corridor light rail and Cedar Avenue bus rapid transit. Five counties – Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington – voted to levy the tax and be part of the County Transit Improvement Board established by the legislation.

The Council has a small voting share on the board and will review spending proposals by the board for consistency with regional transportation plans and policies.

The bill also provided $30.8 million to Metro Transit to fill an operating deficit caused by rising fuel prices and declining revenues from the motor vehicle sales tax.

Operating Northstar commuter rail

The Legislature gave the Metropolitan Council authority to operate and maintain the region’s first commuter-rail line, Northstar, which is scheduled to open for service in late 2009. Once construction is complete, the Council will own the vehicle maintenance facility in Big Lake and the five stations along the 40-mile route. The Council will lease limited use of the track from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.

Northstar will provide commuter-rail service between Big Lake in Sherburne County and downtown Minneapolis, where it will connect with Hiawatha light rail. Metro Transit Police will provide law enforcement on the entire length of the line.

Funds to buy buses

The Legislature acted on two tax bills that included a total of $66.6 million in bonding authority for the purchase of buses, bus shelters and construction of park-and-ride lots. The funding is shared by all of the region’s transit providers, who can use it as a local match to federal transit funding.

Funds to help purchase and develop regional parks

The Legislature approved $10.5 million in bonds for regional parks capital improvements, which can be matched by the Council with about $7.5 million in regional bonds. In addition, the supplemental budget bill included $1.5 million in lottery proceeds for park acquisition, which can be matched by the Council at about $1 million.

Research on algae as an energy source

The Legislature allocated $500,000 to help fund research being conducted jointly by the Council and the University of Minnesota. The partners are investigating the potential of algae grown at wastewater treatment plants as a source of renewable energy. Read more about the research.

An environmental policy bill extends the term of the Metro Area Water Supply Advisory Committee through December 2010. The group is advising the Council as it prepares a Regional Water Supply Master Plan, due to the Legislature in December 2008.