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TP-15 TRANSIT TAXING DISTRICT <br />TP-16 COMPLETE STREETS <br />Metro Cities supports MnDOT taking full responsibility for maintaining state-owned <br />infrastructure and property, including, but not limited to, sound walls and right of way <br />within city limits. Metro Cities supports cooperative agreements between cities and <br />MnDOT, which have proven to be effective in other parts of the state. Metro Cities <br />supports adequate state funding for the maintenance of state rights-of-way. <br />The transit taxing district, which funds the capital cost of transit service in the <br />Metropolitan Area through the property tax system, is inequitable. Because the <br />boundaries of the transit taxing district do not correspond with any rational service line <br />nor is being within the boundaries a guarantee to receive service, cities within and <br />outside of the taxing district are contributing unequally to the transit service in the <br />metropolitan area. This inequity should be corrected. <br />Metro Cities supports a stable revenue source to fund both the capital and operating <br />costs for transit at the Metropolitan Council. However, Metro Cities does not support <br />the expansion of the transit taxing district without a corresponding increase in service <br />and an overall increase in operational funds. To do so would create additional property <br />taxes without a corresponding benefit. <br />A complete street may include sidewalks, bike lanes (or wide paved shoulders), special <br />bus lanes, comfortable and accessible public transportation stops, frequent and safe <br />crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals, curb extensions, <br />narrower travel lanes and more. <br />A complete street in a rural area will differ from a complete street in a highly urban <br />area, but both are designed to balance safety and convenience for everyone using the <br />road. <br />Metro Cities supports options in state design guidelines for complete streets that would <br />give cities greater flexibility to: <br />•Safely accommodate all modes of travel. <br />•Lower traveling speeds on local streets. <br />•Address city infrastructure needs. <br />•Ensure livability in the appropriate context for each city. <br />Metro Cities opposes state-imposed mandates that would increase street infrastructure <br />improvement costs in locations and instances where providing access for alternative <br />modes including cycling and walking are deemed unnecessary or inappropriate as <br />determined by local jurisdictions. <br />37