It is time for Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Minnesota Legislature to find a way to solve the state's transportation funding problem.
Because the two cannot find agreement, Minnesota is falling farther behind and tragedy is happening, from rural highway accidents due to maintenance or safety design issues to catastrophic failure like the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.
The House Transportation Finance Committee heard firsthand Monday about the need to solve Minnesota's transportation funding problem.
Kandiyohi County Board Chairman Harlan Madsen encouraged the Legislature to forget the partisanship and make good transportation policy for the state.
Kandiyohi County Public Works Director Gary Danielson spoke of increased safety concerns from delayed county projects due to a lack of state funding.
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Meeker County highway engineer Ron Mortenson spoke of his county raising property taxes to meet critical county road needs due to a lack of state funding.
Duininck Bros. Inc. president Harris Duininck warned about the dangers of lack of funding driving Minnesota road construction companies out of business. He encouraged the parties involved (Legislature and Gov. Pawlenty) to just "find a way to" pass a transportation plan.
All the political momentum following the I-35W bridge collapse has evaporated while Pawlenty and the Legislature twiddle their thumbs.
It's time Pawlenty and the Legislature find a compromise they can agree on and fix Minnesota's transportation funding dilemma.
Do more Minnesotans have to die for these politicians to finally do something and address this state's transportation funding challenge?
