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| Date: | April 13, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Sandra Whalen | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5238 | | Contact Email: | sandra.whalen@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATOR DeKRUIF APPOINTED TO TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE COMMITTEE |
(ST. PAUL) – Senator Al DeKruif (R-Elysian) has been appointed to the joint Senate-House conference committee for the Transportation Finance Omnibus bill.
“Providing and maintaining a public highway system and infrastructure is a constitutional obligation, and the funding mechanism which draws from both state and federal sources is often complicated,” DeKruif said.
The bill approved in the Senate totaled $4.69 billion for the biennium, with $139.1 million of this total coming from the state General Fund.
General Fund, or funding generated from state tax dollars, supports Metro Transit, Greater Minnesota Transit Services and the Department of Public Safety. Reductions from projected spending in those areas protect services to the elderly and disabled, and limit the impact to rural service providers.
The bill includes up to $100 million for a newly created Trunk Highway Economic Development Account in the Trunk Highway Fund to promote economic development, relieve traffic congestion and increase employment. DeKruif said the account attaches transportation dollars to economic development in Minnesota by calling for an even distribution of funds to metro and Greater Minnesota communities, and allows us to respond to and take advantage of economic development and job-creation opportunities throughout our state.
Although reductions are made to Metro Transit, this bill requires the Met Council to use its reserves for bus operations and fund transfer authority passed by the 2009 Legislature to avoid service reductions and fare increases.
Once the committee agrees to changes, the combined bill will be returned to both houses for approval then sent to Governor Mark Dayton.
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