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FACT <br /> <br />Commuter rail is subsidized; roads aren't. <br /> <br />Roads are not funded solely by user fees. The highway trust fund annually <br />receives over $180 million from the state general fund. According to the latest <br />data collected by the State Auditor, 39% of county highway expenditures and <br />87% of city street expenditures come from property taxes or special <br />assessments. Gas taxes and motor vehicle registration (TAB) fees do provide <br />nearly $1.1 billion annually to support the road system, but an almost equal <br />subsidy amount comes from the general fund, property taxes and special <br />assessments. This means that the annual non-user tax subsidy for roads is <br />nearly 5 times greater than for transit. <br /> <br />FACT <br /> <br />Buses would be a better alternative for people in the Northstar Corridor. <br /> <br />The Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) reviewed all the <br />options - including buses and busways- as required by the FTA. It was clear <br />that commuter rail is the best option for thi.s, corridor. The Burlington Northern <br />Santa Fe rails are already in place. Commuter rail is faster and more reliable <br />than buses. Buses would be stuck on the same congested highways as cars. <br />Running them on shoulders is slow and is intended for bottleneck relief only. <br /> <br />FACT <br /> <br />A railroad construction agreement needs to be signed before the state <br />devotes funding to the project. <br /> <br />Until the project is funded, BNSF has little incentive to negotiate a contract <br />because the project, without funding, won't exist. Negotiations with the <br />railroad are at the same point in Northstar's development as they have been <br />with every other commuter rail project throughout the country. Obviously, <br />there is nothing to negotiate or sign if the project isn't funded. <br /> <br />FACT <br /> <br />People love their cars and wouldn't use Northstar commuter rail. <br /> <br />No one expects people to sell their cars because commuter rail is operating. <br />Automobiles are still needed for mobility within the corridor. The NCDA <br />expects corridor residents to respond to commuter rail in the same way they <br />have responded to the express bus service currently in service in the metro <br />area. If the service saves time, avoids parking fees, is reliable, timely, safe and <br />avoids mental frustration of congestion, people will leave their cars at the <br />park-and-ride lot and opt for the more cost effective and convenient <br />alternative. <br /> <br />p. 4 May 9, 2002 <br /> <br /> <br />