2019-037 Requesting Comprehensive Road and Transit Funding CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2019-037
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING
COMPREHENSIVE ROAD AND TRANSIT FUNDING
WHEREAS, all Minnesota communities benefit from a sound, efficient, and adequately funded
transportation system that offers diverse modes of travel; and
WHEREAS, the integrity of Minnesota's transportation infrastructure is dependent upon long-
term planning and ongoing maintenance, both of which require dedicated and sustainable
revenue sources; and
WHEREAS, current funding for roads, bridges, and transit systems across all government levels
in Minnesota is inadequate, and this under-investment diminishes quality of life for Minnesota
residents and hinders Minnesota's progress as a national business, economic, and civic leader;
and
WHEREAS, Minnesota's transportation system is failing to meet the capacity needs necessary to
sustain population growth and promote economic development; and
WHEREAS,many rural roads are not built to modern safety standards and are not meeting the
needs of industries that depend on the ability to transport heavy loads; and
WHEREAS, insufficient state funding has delayed regionally significant road construction and
reconstruction projects across Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, transportation infrastructure maintenance and improvement costs significantly
contribute to rising property taxes; and
WHEREAS, for every one dollar spent on maintenance, a road authority—and therefore
taxpayers—save seven dollars in repairs; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota contains over 141,000 miles of roadway, and over 22,500 miles—or 16
percent--are owned and maintained by Minnesota's 853 cities; and
WHEREAS, almost 85 percent of all municipal streets are not eligible for dedicated Highway
User Tax Distribution Fund dollars; and
WHEREAS, the more than 700 Minnesota cities with populations below 5,000 are ineligible for
dedicated Highway User Tax Distribution Fund dollars, but have benefitted from the creation of
the Small Cities Assistance Account; and
WHEREAS, city streets are a separate but integral piece of the network of roads supporting
movement of people and goods; and
WHEREAS, existing funding mechanisms, such as Municipal State Aid (MSA), property taxes,
and special assessments, have limited applications, leaving cities under-equipped to address
growing needs; and
WHEREAS, city cost participation in state and county highway projects diverts resources from
city-owned streets; and
WHEREAS, maintenance costs increase as road systems age, and no city—large or small—is
spending enough on roadway capital improvements to maintain a 50-year lifecycle; and
WHEREAS, cities need greater resources, including an additional dedicated state funding source
for transportation, and flexible policies to meet growing demands for street improvements and
maintenance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
HOPKINS that this Council requests that the Minnesota Legislature pass and Governor Tim
Walz sign a comprehensive and balanced transportation funding package that permanently
increases dedicated funding for transportation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS that
this Council defines a comprehensive and balanced transportation funding package as an
initiative that permanently increases dedicated funding for state and local road and transit
systems in Greater Minnesota and the Metropolitan Area.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS that
this Council requests an omnibus transportation funding bill that provides additional dedicated
state funding for city streets, including funding that can be used for non-MSA city street
maintenance, construction, and reconstruction.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this 7th day of May, 2019.
Xasonadd, Mayor
ATTEST:
�w Lei
Amy Domeier, City Clerk