5.5. SR 03-24-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

bridges on the one hand, and the limited available funding resources to address these demands on the other. Section 4-5: Transportation Funding Challenges, Policy Options and Recommendations The final two sections of this report focus on the future demands on the city road and bridge system, and the extent to which Minnesota cities are currently prepared and empowered to meet these demands. These sections of the report present specific findings which indicate that existing funding mechanisms will result in increasing budget shortfalls as cities struggle to address growing system demands. These sections of the report also present specific city road and bridge capital funding options and recommendations. Section 4 identifies and describes specific transportation funding challenges facing state and local policy makers, and potential policy options to address them. The discussion is organized by the principal roadway systems that comprise the total city-owned and maintained street inventory in Minnesota. The section is organized by roadway system so that city officials whose interest is primarily in one specific roadway classification will be able to focus on the information contained in that particular subsection. These subsections are indicated below: A. All City Systems: This subsection presents key findings potential policy responses that can apply to all Minnesota cities, regardless of size or roadway classification. Bo Locally Funded City Streets -Cities under 5,000: This subsection addresses 100 percent of roadways located in Minnesota's 724 cities with populations under 5,000. These cities are not eligible to receive state aid for local road and bridge funding from the Municipal State Aid program, and are obligated to finance all of their local road and bridge projects from their own revenue sources, typically financed with property taxes. Co Locally Funded City Streets - Cities over 5,000: This subsection addresses the 80 percent of city-owned roadways (which excludes state trunk highways and county roads) that are located in Minnesota's 130 largest cities. These roadways receive no state funding through the state aid formula known as Municipal State Aid (MSA), and are appropriately funded with locally generated revenues. State Funded City Streets - Cities over 5,000: This subsection addresses the 20 percent of city roadways in Minnesota's largest 130 cities that receive state aid funding from the MSA funding program. Research Methodology Two primary research methodologies were applied to derive the findings included in Section 4 of the report. First, the authors sought to find and display the most recent available data on subjects that involve city roads and bridge infrastructure in the state. Much of this information was provided by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) State Aid to Local Transportation Group, including information contained in the legislatively mandated report, "Legislative Study of State Funding for Local Road Improvements". Other sources of information include the Office of the State Auditor, and the Federal Highway Administration. Data sources are clearly indicated throughout the report. 2