An Star Tribune analysis finds residents in the Twin Cities region are generously supporting the transportation infrastructure spending of the rest of the state.
"Greater Minnesota gets far more money for roads and bridges than its residents pay in taxes for those projects, a new Star Tribune analysis of transportation funding has found," report J. Patrick Coolican and Mary Jo Webster. Throughout the article, the "Metro" is used to describe counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, while "Greater Minnesota" is used to describe the rest of the state.
"The review found that metro and greater Minnesota taxpayers each provide about half the money for Minnesota’s roads and bridges, but greater Minnesota gets twice as much back in projects," add Coolican and Webster. To be exact, Metro area counties generate 52 percent of the state's vehicles sales tax, vehicle registration fees, and fuel taxes revenues. However, the same counties only receive 32 percent of the state's transportation investment.
According to the article, the findings of the analysis "contradicts a commonly held perception in greater Minnesota — and one heard often in political campaigns — that the metro is taking more than it gives." That common misconception is not unique to Minnesota, of course.
The analysis emerges as Republican Senate leaders "are planning to review their 10-year transportation funding plan," and while debate regarding the Southwest light rail project continues at the state and regional levels.
FULL STORY: Metro contributes roughly half of state transportation dollars, gets fewer in return
Property Tax Could Fund $7 Billion Transit Plan in Austin, Displacement Mitigation Included
A $7 billion transit investment plan for Austin would include $300 million toward preventing displacement of communities in neighborhoods located near planned transit investments.
SEPTA Ready to Roll Out Major Capital Investments
Budgets reflect priorities, and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will be prioritizing capital investments in the 2018 fiscal year.
Trump Budget Blueprint Would Nix Federal Transit Spending
Reports from inside the Trump transition are that the incoming administration will follow a budget blueprint laid out by the Heritage Foundation—public transit not included.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research