08-23-2006 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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July 26, 2006 The Honorable Bill Blesener Mayor, City of Little Canada 515 Little Canada Rd E Little Canada, MN 55117 -1633 Dear Mayor: JUL 2 7 2006 c ::11 Y. OF i,iTl'/[ CANADA yonyc YES �.� As local officials, we have a unique perspective on the impact Minnesota's transportation system has on the strength, safety and economic development of individual communities. Nearly every day, we hear from our constituents about everything from potholes and dangerous local intersections to the need for more public transit options. We also hear broader concerns about bridges and highways that are not designed to support the transport of goods and services to fuel our local economies and the impact that will have on the future vitality of our area. Despite the significant effect transportation has on our quality of life, years of regional and ideological battles have prevented Minnesota from making significant, sustained investments in a balanced statewide transportation system. Our roads, bridges and transit systems have endured decades of neglect and disrepair, forcing local officials to make difficult decisions about where to spend limited resources. Increasingly, local governments have had to turn to local property taxes to improve highways that are critical to our communities. We know that transportation needs are different for nearly every community in the state, but there is one thing we all need — adequate revenue to make investments in transportation. Right now, we have an opportunity to support a positive, first step toward meeting our local transportation needs now and in the future. On November 7, Minnesotans will vote on Minnesota's Transportation Amendment. This constitutional amendment will dedicate 100 percent of the existing motor vehicle sales tax to roads, bridges, highways and public transit throughout the state, providing an additional $300 million per year in new revenue for transportation projects throughout the state. It clearly will not solve our transportation funding crisis, but it represents part of the funding solution and will move us closer to making progress on critical transportation infrastructure needs. We urge you to join with over 700 other local governments, business, transit, transportation, environmental, labor and civic organizations in support of Minnesota's Transportation Amendment. A new coalition, Minnesotans For Better Roads and Transit (MBRT) is bringing people together around this issue and it has become the largest and most diverse coalition to unite in support of a constitutional amendment in state history. The strength and depth of support for Minnesota's Transportation Amendment is evidence of the significant role transportation plays in the lives of all Minnesotans. Here are some of the reasons why over 70 cities and townships, including the League of Minnesota Cities, 60 counties and 30 local government organizations have already signed up to support the transportation amendment: - It's common sense. Dedicating 100 percent of our transportation tax dollars to transportation is a logical and necessary first step toward meeting our transportation needs. - Our cormn pities will benefit from a dependable, sustainable commitment to transportation. Twenty -five years ago, the Legislature decided that all revenue from the existing motor vehicle sales tax should be used for transportation. But every year, some or all of that revenue has been diverted to other purposes — more than $6 billion since 1981. - Minnesota needs a balanced approach to transportation. The transportation amendment will help ensure that balanced investments in rural and metro communities for roads, bridges, highways, buses and rail systems will create a transportation system that serves all Minnesotans. www.VoteYesMN.org - 2 -