Minnesota Senate

Minnesota House

Of Representatives

State Office Building

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

Senator D. Scott Dibble 651-296-4191 tinyurl.com/SenatorDibbleEmail

Representative Frank Hornstein 651-296-9281

rep.frank.hornstein@senate.mn

Dear Neighbor, The 2015 legislative session ended without significant progress on several major issues. We were hopeful that with a $2 billion surplus and broad consensus on the need for a long-term investment in transportation infrastructure more would get done. In the end, the Legislature did not pass the reliable and sustainable funding so desperately needed to address the 21st Century challenges facing Minnesotas multi-modal transportation system. With this said, we are pleased that a few of our initiatives were included in the lights on transportation bill enacted into law by Governor Dayton.

Railroad Damage Responsibilities Clarification: Updates 1905 law so that railroad corporations are responsible for damages to every person and private and public entity whose property would be potentially damaged by fire, if the fire is spread or caused by the rolling stock, the contents of the rolling stock, a spill, tear, discharge, or combustion of train contents. Railroads are also liable for response expenses when a fire or other emergency is caused by a railroad.

Department of Public Safety (DPS) Response Preparedness Reporting to Include Ethanol by Rail: A provision was added to have the Department of Public Safety analyze the impacts and preparedness of ethanol transportation by rail in Minnesota. This is the same information that is required for oil transportation.

Texting While Driving Fine for Subsequent Offense: Imposes a fine of $225 for persons who violate the law that prohibits using a wireless communication device to compose, read or send a text when driving for a second or subsequent offense. With an increased fine of $225 plus the $50 base amount set by the courts and the $75 court surcharge the total fine is $350.

State Aid Street Design Standards: Revises the design criteria used for the major roads owned by cities and counties in order to be consistent how state owned roads are designedwhich can be especially helpful in making them more usable for residential and commercial settings, and for bikers and pedestrians.

Transportation Management Organizations (TMOs): Appropriates $200,000 in 2016 for grants to highly successful organizations that work with employers in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington to better connect their employees to transit options.

One big disappointment was that our legislation to require the four Class I, large national railroad companies operating in Minnesota to pay up to $32.5 million annually to mitigate their threats to public safety did not advance. The assessment was to be directed at highway-rail grade crossing improvements on rail corridors transporting crude oil and other hazardous materials. The legislation was intended to reduce or eliminate grade crossing accidents, fatalities and injuries; the likelihood of potentially catastrophic fires involving crude oil trains; delays to the motoring general public; delays to emergency responders; and environmental damages from the release crude oil or other hazardous materials. There was much opposition from the railroads and the Republican House Majority. Southwest LRT corridor: In regards to Southwest LRT corridor we have taken the recently revealed unanticipated 20% increase in construction costs very seriously. Additionally, with issuance of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) on May 22, we were successful in urging the Met Council and the Federal Transit Administration to give interested parties additional time to review, analyze and submit formal comments. The deadline to weigh in on the study is now July 21, 2015. To learn more about it the process for commenting, go to this link: http://tinyurl.com/SWLRT-SDEIS. A call for Special Session Transportation compromise: Finally, an upcoming special session is needed to resolve several issues including the three major finance bills vetoed by Governor Dayton (E-12 Education, Environment and Agriculture, and Jobs and Energy). We stand firmly with Governor Dayton in his call for an adequate funding for E-12 Education to allow for investment in both our schools and in early childhood education, including pre-kindergarten. We were in especially strong support of his veto of the Environment bill that contained many measures that, if enacted, would be huge steps backwards in our efforts to ensure a clean, sustainable and healthy environment. While we do not yet know when special session will occur, we are also urging inclusion of a transportation compromise finance package that takes elements from both the DFL and GOP proposals to break the current deadlock. It take someone to make the first move. Were hopeful that our Republican partners, the Governor and legislative leadership responds to this good faith attempt to break the present inertia and restore momentum on this important work. The key components of the compromise include: Highway User Tax Distribution Fund

Dedicate existing Sales Tax on Auto Parts (via the constitution), $381M in FY 16-17, $493M in FY 18-19

10/gallon Gas Tax, approx. $300M/year

.25% increase for Registration Tax (Tab Fees, to 1.5%), $191.6M in 16-17, $278.8M in 18-19

Efficiencies, including PPPs (15% of the identified gap in need) Bonding within the TH Fund over 10 years: $1.5B

Corridors of Commerce: $800M

Transportation & Economic Development: $200M

State Road Construction: $500M

Metro Transit

The seven metropolitan counties, Opt-in at either or , (if at , can be flexed in that county for roads or transit), $274-$400M/year (approx., depending on opt-in and rate of sales tax)

Greater Minnesota Transit

8% of Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (contingent on 58% roads / 42% transit split), $30M/year

Increase General Fund base: $12M/year, ongoing Cities (both Municipal State Aid (MSA) and non-MSA cities)

Portion of HUDTF 5% set aside ($6-7M/year for small cities; 48.5% of 5% of HUTDF for MSA cities, $60-70M/year)

$10 title transfer fee, $12M/year; $10 vehicle registration fee, $45M/year: $28.5M/year to small cities, $28.5M to MSA cities (Note, not counting regular formula dollars flowing to MSA cities via the HUTDF)

7 Metro Counties County State Aid Highways (CSAH)

Move $32M diverted to General Fund to CSAH

Distribute with population-based formula: but with Hennepin at 25% of population, Ramsey at 50% of population

Bike-Pedestrian/Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

Greater Minnesota: Federal minimum guaranteed at $16M/year plus General Fund: $5M/year ongoing

Metro: portion of sales tax plus General Fund (SRTS) Railroad Safety Improvements

$32M/year assessment on railroads Action on transportation cannot wait another year or longer. Gridlock at the Capitol leads to gridlock on our roadways, failure to provide minimally acceptable transit mobility, and spiraling construction costs. We simply can't afford more delays and need to get Minnesota moving forward. Please stay in touch and continue to share your thoughts with us. Sincerely,

Frank Hornstein D. Scott Dibble State Representative, District 61A State Senator, District 61