AAA Clubs of Minnesota Address Increasing Transportation Needs

Op-Ed piece by: Jeff Ogden, President and Chief Operating Officer, AAA Minnesota/Iowa Steve Frank, President and Chief Executive Officer, AAA Minneapolis

BURNSVILLE, Minn., Oct. 13 -- Several broad-based governmental and business organizations are addressing our state's long-range transportation needs and how to pay for them. AAA's 650,000 Minnesota members, whose opinions are measured in annual surveys, are keenly interested in solutions. Based on our members' feedback and relevant demographic studies, we believe the following points need to be considered.

The population of the Twin Cities metro area will grow by 500,000 people during the next 15 years. If nothing is done to address the increased transportation demand this growth will create, the enormous increase in congestion will cause billions of dollars in lost productivity, wasted fuel and diminished driver safety. In addition, existing roads and bridges throughout the state are deteriorating due to age and increased use. Funding to meet statewide transportation needs is estimated at $750 million per year above and beyond current spending.

This is an issue of regional competitiveness, jobs, economic growth and quality of life. We need a functional, multi-modal transportation system to continue to make our area a good place to live, to work and to do business.

  Some specific considerations include:
   -- The realization that this is a statewide issue, not solely a problem
      in the Twin Cities or in Greater Minnesota. In today's competitive
      environment, Minnesotans increasingly win or lose together on these
      broad issues.
   -- The need for significant multi-modal solutions. Building highways
      alone will not solve our problems.
   -- The support of regional centers in Greater Minnesota is a key
      component of the plan.
   -- Increased funding. Although higher taxes and other fees can be
      unpopular, increased funding is necessary to pay for these critical
      improvements.
   -- In order to document needs and success criteria, an annual progress
      report of local and state initiatives should be made available to
      Minnesotans.
   -- No single funding mechanism, such as gas taxes, license fees, or sales
      taxes, will pay the bill. In order to make this plan a success, broad-
      based funding will be required.

The AAA Clubs of Minnesota are committed to working toward a solution to the transportation problems of our growing area. On behalf of our AAA members, we will be active participants and call upon all constituencies to work together for a broad-based plan for our future.

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, with 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states. AAA Minneapolis serves more than 172,000 members in Hennepin County.