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TRANSITWAY DEVELOPMENT IN THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA <br />Position: <br />Washington County supports the State Legislature implementing additional new revenue needed for the <br />development and construction of transit in the metropolitan area. <br />Issue: <br />The process for developing transitways in the region relies on local initiatives and funding, under the <br />framework of the Metropolitan Council's vision and plans. In 2008 the Legislature created the Counties <br />Transit Improvement Board (CTIB), which is comprised of member counties, currently Anoka, Hennepin, <br />Ramsey, Washington, and Dakota. CTIB has developed a long-term vision for transitway expansion that <br />supplements Metropolitan Council's regional vision for transit. To support this vision, the counties <br />implemented a self-imposed 0.25% sales and use tax and a $20 motor vehicle excise tax that generates <br />approximately $115 million per year for transitway expansion (capital and operations). The purpose of <br />the CTIB is to collect these sales tax funds, and to grant those funds to transitway projects in the Twin <br />Cities area. The CTIB funds transitway projects that meet eligibility criteria established through its <br />Transit Investment Framework and that are found to be consistent with the regional long-range transit <br />plan established by the Metropolitan Council. <br />Financial analysis indicates that current revenue sources will not be sufficient to fully construct the <br />Metropolitan Council vision for transit, nor the CTIB long-term vision for transitway expansion. <br />Additional funding will be necessary to plan and construct these regional improvements. Because these <br />improvements are regional in nature, Washington County believes additional revenue for transit and <br />transitway expansion should be implemented by the State of Minnesota and revenue for transitway <br />expansion directed to CTIB for distribution and implementation. <br />Support and Opposition: <br />Supported by the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) and the Minnesota Transportation <br />Alliance. The county would need to work with the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) and the <br />Minnesota Inter -county Association (MICA) to develop strong regional support for this proposal. <br />No Action: <br />If the proposal is not enacted, the metropolitan area will not have sufficient funding to implement the <br />transit vision. <br />Financial Implications: <br />Sustainable revenue sources need to be identified. The financial implications depend on the source of <br />funding. <br />Contact Person: <br />Jan Lucke, Transit/Transportation Planning Manager <br />Washington County Public Works <br />651-430-4316 <br />ian.lucke@co.washington.mn.us <br />13 <br />