Just over a month ago, Bluestem posted about the possible convergence Trump's proposals for private investment funding America's transportation systems and the controversial elevated train between The Cities and Rochester in High speed rail irony for MN's red-voting fly over zone: Donald Trump loves fast passenger trains.
Looks like there might be another downside for transportation funding in Greater Minnesota.
In today's Star Tribune, Allison Sherry reports in Minnesota awaits result of national push for transportation spending:
President-elect Trump’s pledge to spend billions of dollars on new road and bridge projects could dramatically reshape Minnesota’s transportation priorities, potentially bringing private investment to finance massive public works projects.
In Minnesota and across the nation, elected leaders are scrambling to find ways to pay for road and bridge repair, hampered by limited taxpayer dollars and stiff political resistance to raising the gasoline tax.
Even before he has taken office, Trump’s team has pitched a private investment model that would devote more than $100 billion in tax incentives to lure private businesses to invest in projects.
To recoup their investments, these projects would typically have a revenue stream attached — like a toll on roads or a fare to ride a train. This model could breathe new life into fledging projects like a proposed high-speed train from Minneapolis to Rochester, home of Mayo Clinic. . . .
But some transportation advocates worry the private investment model won’t work in all cases, particularly in rural areas that need new wastewater plants or road repairs.
“If this is the be-all-end-all, it’s not going to be terribly helpful,” said Margaret Donahoe executive director of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance. “It certainly wouldn’t help with greater Minnesota or help with the maintenance of roads and bridges we really need.”
How much coin will private investors through in the pot to secure tax credits to rebuild the section of Highway 12 that Rep. Tim Miller, R-Prinsburg, has called a "goat trail?" In April 2015, lobbying law firm Winthrop and Weinstine's John Reich noted in Week in Review – Taxes, Transportation, and Goat Trails:
One of the more interesting points of the House Transportation debate was the discussion of an amendment to rename a rural Minnesota highway a “goat trail.” The amendment, offered by House DFL Minority Leader, Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) stemmed from comments to the StarTribune by freshman Rep. Tim Miller (R-Prinsburg) that Hwy 12 “is in about as good a shape as a goat trail.” The amendment was to ostensibly draw attention to the state of Greater Minnesota roads. In the end, the amendment was withdrawn after nearly 45 mins of debates on “goat trails.
Somehow, Bluestem suspects that private investors won't find the opportunity to fix US Highway by building a toll road between Kerkhoven and Ortonville all that attractive. But using eminent domain to seize property for real estate development along a private elevated train from the south suburbs to Rochester, while also grabbing a tax break? Hot damn.
Trump promised to drain the swamp. Perhaps he just meant wetlands along the corridors of toll roads and such.
Photo: Rural Minnesotans voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump, whose plans for privatizing investment in transportation may help that SEMN bullet train they don't much like, while leaving the Tim Miller Memorial Goat Trail behind. At least we won't be condescended to or something, even if those private ventures manage to avoid paying prevailing wages. See our October post: Gruenhagen: repairing MN’s aging roads & bridges affordable if we pay workers less.
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