The perennial debate over transportation funding is sure to ramp up as lawmakers return to Saint Paul for the second half of the legislative session. MN-DOT Commissioner Charles Zelle takes issue with a bill that would de-emphasize MN-PASS lanes in the metro area. “Simple arithmetic is that MNPASS lanes carry twice as many people as general-purpose lanes,” he says. “It is one of the bedrocks of our focus on efficiency and prudent investments for Minnesotans.” Those on the other side argue MNPASS or H-O-V lanes are often underutilized, causing even more congestion for the rest of the drivers forced to use a limited number of lanes.
Zelle also disagrees with a plan that focuses on construction of additional lanes rather than maintenance of existing ones. “This is like adding an addition to your house while you let the roof continue to decay and start leaking into the rest of the structure,” he says. Democrats generally advocate additional funding for transportation through a gas tax increase or other means. Republicans oppose tax increases and prefer using revenue from existing sources, such as the sales tax on auto parts and repair. Democrats warn that will steal funding from other important programs such as education.