Minnesota's Transportation Amendment Provides a Balanced Approach

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Oct. 5, 2006 -- The petition being filed in opposition to Minnesota's Transportation Amendment demonstrates the type of approach that has caused transportation funding to be gridlocked for two decades, said Rick Krueger, vice president of Minnesotans for Better Roads and Transit and executive director of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance.

The 2005 Legislature decided that all Minnesota voters should have the opportunity to decide if their transportation taxes should fund transportation, he said. As a legal and accurate amendment, voters deserve the right to vote on this question.

"Minnesota voters have been hearing about this amendment for nearly a year, and now they should be allowed to evaluate it and determine if they want to vote 'yes' for more transportation funding," Krueger said. "Minnesotans for Better Roads and Transit supports this amendment because it provides a balanced, statewide approach to improving our transportation system."

Minnesota's Transportation Amendment provides a balanced approach to a difficult transportation problem in the state. More than 1,000 organizations are supporting the amendment because it will provide significant new revenue for transportation projects in every part of the state.

"The people opposing the amendment clearly want it to be their way or the highway, but if they get their way, transportation funding could be delayed for another 20 years," Krueger added.

Minnesota's Transportation Amendment will provide $300 million every year for Minnesota's roads and transit. This is new revenue that will be available to advance statewide transportation projects.

"Passage of this amendment is essential for Minnesota to match available federal funding" said Congressman Jim Oberstar. "It is important that Minnesotans vote 'yes' on the transportation amendment on November 7th."