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TP-12 MUNICIPAL INPUT/CONSENT FOR TRUNK HIGHWAYS AND <br />COUNTY ROADS <br />TP-13 PLAT AUTHORITY <br />TP-14 MNDOT MAINTENANCE BUDGET <br />Metro Cities supports special or additional funding for cities that have burdens of <br />additional cost participation in projects involving county roads. <br />The CSAH formula passed by the Legislature in 2008 helped to better account for needs <br />in the metropolitan region but additional resources for the region are needed. Metro Cities <br />supports a new CSAH formula more equitably designed to fund the needs of our <br />metropolitan region. <br />State statutes direct the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to submit <br />detailed plans, with city cost estimates, at a point one-and-a-half to two years prior to bid <br />letting, at which time public hearings are held for community input. If MnDOT does not <br />concur with requested changes, it may appeal. Currently, that process would take a <br />maximum of three and a half months and the results of the appeals board are binding on <br />both the city and MnDOT. <br />Metro Cities supports the municipal consent process and opposes changes to weaken <br />municipal consent or adding another level of government to the consent process. Metro <br />Cities opposes changes to current statutes that would allow MnDOT to disregard the <br />appeals board ruling for state trunk highways. Such a change would significantly minimize <br />MnDOT’s need to negotiate in good faith with cities for appropriate project access and <br />alignment and would render the public hearing and appeals process meaningless. Metro <br />Cities also opposes the elimination of the county road municipal consent and appeal <br />process for these reasons. <br />Current law grants counties review and comment authority for access and drainage <br />issues for city plats abutting county roads. Metro Cities opposes any statutory change <br />that would grant counties veto power or that would shorten the 120-day review and <br />permit process time. <br />MnDOT has been inconsistent in meeting its responsibility for maintaining major roads <br />throughout the state and has required, through omission, that cities bear the burden of <br />maintaining major state roads. <br />MnDOT should be required to meet standards adopted by cities through local ordinances, <br />or reimburse ci ties for labor, equipment and material used on the state’s behalf to improve <br />public safety or meet local standards. Furthermore, if a city performs maintenance, the <br />city should be fully reimbursed. <br />36