Posted: 10/9/07
Mn/DOT budget crunch could delay 21 area road projects
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) last week presented a list of 228 road and bridge projects that could be delayed unless the state finds $195 million to offset I-35W bridge reconstruction costs. Of those projects, 21 are in District Six, which covers Southern Minnesota.
In addition to project delays, officials warned that tight budgets at the department could limit road maintenance and operations budgets in 2008.
"Itís very concerning to hear that internal financial troubles at the Department of Transportation could delay critical investments in our roads and bridges," said Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes (DFL-Winona). "Itís become all-too-clear in the past few months how important it is to immediately respond to the dire state of Minnesotaís transportation system. Unfortunately, the Governorís refusal to make new investments in transportation during his past five years in office has not set up the department with the financial resources to address these issues."
The Departmentís admission came during a hearing of the Transportation Contingent Appropriations Group (TCAG), which has been charged with examining the financing of the I-35W reconstruction project. The TCAG is an eight-member panel chaired by Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller.
Mn/DOT officials testified that higher than expected bridge construction costs - the cost estimate of the bridge has grown from $240 million to almost $400 million - coupled with a delay in promised federal funding has left the department unable to meet its current 2008 road construction plans. Financial mismanagement of current projects combined with the Governorís veto of a bipartisan transportation funding package after the 2007 legislative session have contributed to the Departmentís budget problems, Sen. Erickson Ropes said.
The state is divided into eight regional areas by Mn/DOT; Southern Minnesota is included in District Six. Six construction projects that could be delayed because of this budget deficit includes:
ď Overlay project from St. Charles to Elba;
ď Sign replacement at various locations along I-90;
ď Repairing and resurfacing along portions of Highway 76;
ď District-wide bridge repairs, preventive maintenance and overlays.
"Every project that improves the safety or state of our local roads and bridges is critical to the safety and mobility of our region," Sen. Erickson Ropes said. "We cannot afford to wait another year to make these necessary investments."
Some members of the TCAG questioned why the Mn/DOT budget shortfall had not been addressed during last monthís special session.
By waiting to inform lawmakers of the deficit until after the special session was complete, the Department limited lawmakersí ability to resolve the deficit without delaying future construction projects.
"The Governor could have prevented this entire mess by working with legislative leaders during the special session," Sen. Erickson Ropes said. "Unfortunately, he picked personal politics over good policy.
We were told transportation funding issues could wait until the 2008 regular session. It is abundantly clear now that is not the case."
The TCAG is currently exploring options for funding the bridge reconstruction effort without delaying other construction projects in the state. The Governor has asked the panel to dip into the stateís budget reserves to pay for the deficit, although some experts question if the panel has the legal authority to make such a large budgetary decision without approval of the entire Legislature.
The TCAG is meeting again next week. The group may make a final ruling on the Departmentís funding request during this meeting.
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