Streets.mn is a non-profit and is volunteer run. We rely on your support to keep the servers running. If you value what you read, please consider becoming a member.
I’ve recently read that Minnesota is 5th in miles of paved highway miles, but only 21st in population. And due to our weather our roads are some of the most expensive to maintain.
I grew up in rural Minnesota, and I know how fun it can be to speed down an empty paved road in the middle of no where (ah, my misspent youth)… but now I can what a waste those are… Spending 100s of thousands to millions of dollars on road that only service a handful of people is not sustainable, and will cause huge fiscal problems in the future.
I think we have passed the point were network expansion can create wealth. And I think that we are near the point of negative returns. But unfortunately no transportation bill will pass without promising network expansion.
MN needs a road diet, at least in the areas where there is no traffic.
From MNDoT’s website, the 14% Federal Aid to Trunk Highway System is the money coming from Federal Fuel Tax grants ($394 million).
The 11% Federal Aid to Local Roads and Multimodal is: $223.7 million Federal funds expended Local Roads and Bridges, $9.1 million Federal/Local rail projects, $28.1 million Federal funds Greater Minnesota, and $49.9 million Federal funds for Aeronautics funding.
Note on Comments
streets.mn welcomes opinions from many perspectives. Please refrain from attacking or disparaging others in your comments. streets.mn sees debate as a learning opportunity. Please share your perspective in a respectful manner. View our full comment policy to learn more.
I’ve recently read that Minnesota is 5th in miles of paved highway miles, but only 21st in population. And due to our weather our roads are some of the most expensive to maintain.
I grew up in rural Minnesota, and I know how fun it can be to speed down an empty paved road in the middle of no where (ah, my misspent youth)… but now I can what a waste those are… Spending 100s of thousands to millions of dollars on road that only service a handful of people is not sustainable, and will cause huge fiscal problems in the future.
I think we have passed the point were network expansion can create wealth. And I think that we are near the point of negative returns. But unfortunately no transportation bill will pass without promising network expansion.
MN needs a road diet, at least in the areas where there is no traffic.
amen
How does federal gas tax figure into the top pie chart? How about federal “general fund”?
From MNDoT’s website, the 14% Federal Aid to Trunk Highway System is the money coming from Federal Fuel Tax grants ($394 million).
The 11% Federal Aid to Local Roads and Multimodal is: $223.7 million Federal funds expended Local Roads and Bridges, $9.1 million Federal/Local rail projects, $28.1 million Federal funds Greater Minnesota, and $49.9 million Federal funds for Aeronautics funding.